Kilkenny man who sexually abused eight young boys was jailed for 19 years

A Kilkenny man who sexually abused eight boys has been jailed for 19 years.

The Central Criminal Court heard how John Curtin’s abuse of the children, which began 30 years ago and lasted 12 years, profoundly affected the victims throughout their lives.

They describe Curtin, 59, variously as a ‘monster’, ‘devil’, ‘bastard’ and a ‘ghoul’.

The court heard how the psychological impact of the abuse devastated the lives of Curtin’s victims as they grew up and started their own families. They described how their education, relationships, mental health and employment had all been negatively affected by the lingering effects of the abuse.

Some men told the court they turned to drink or drugs and had thoughts of suicide.

Curtin, who lives in Salome Place, Monmeenroe, Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny, was convicted by a jury last May of 78 charges, including allegations of oral rape, anal rape and sexual assault against eight young boys between 1995 and 2007. He has no previous convictions.

The now adult complainants have indicated that they wish to maintain their anonymity, but have no problem with Curtin being named.

Pass sentence today/yesterday (MON), Ms Justice Eileen Creeden said it was clear from all of the men’s victim impact statements that they had found the legal process extremely difficult and had been re-traumatized as a result of having to go back and relive the events in evidence.

She said the abuse had a profound negative effect on the men’s entire lives, including their relationships, family dynamics, ability to trust and failure to reach their full potential in life.

The judge said she must look at Curtin’s rehabilitation and reintegration into the community, but noted that a psychological assessment shows he continues to deny the allegations and that he has been diagnosed with a depressive disorder.

She said he would benefit from participating in a sex offender treatment program to address and reduce his risk of reoffending.

Mrs Justice Creedon set a headline sentence of 20 years. She said she could not identify any mitigation, noting that Curtin had completely disputed the trial and had not made any apology or acknowledgment of the jury’s verdicts.

She imposed a 20-year prison sentence, with the final year suspended for one year, with conditions including probation supervision, attending a sex offender treatment program and no contact with children.

During the trial, the court heard that the crimes involved eight young boys, who described how Curtin abused them at home and also in some other rural areas. Dominic McGinn SC, prosecuting, said the offense in both cases followed a similar pattern, with Curtin at about the age of 11 “luring them into conversation by offering cigarettes” and then inviting them to his home “where he would prey on their innocence. , naivety and confusion”.

Curtin encouraged the boys to touch him and in some cases the abuse escalated to anal or oral rape. He also encouraged some boys to get into his car with the promise that they could sit on his lap and drive the car. Curtin took this opportunity to abuse them.

The first boy was sexually abused and anally raped by the man between 1995 and 1996, when he was between 11 and 13 years old.

In his victim impact statement, the man described the adverse and ongoing impact of the abuse on his life and family. He told the court of the “huge burden” the trial had placed on them, but said he would “do it all over again” to lock up a rapist and child molester like Curtin.

A second man was sexually abused between 1997 and 1999, aged 11 and 12.

This man told the court that the crimes have had a lasting effect on him, but he hopes he can move on now that this trial is over. “So many people’s lives have been affected,” he said, “now it is time for John Curtin’s life to be affected and for him to pay for what he has done.”

A third boy was sexually abused, both anally and orally, between 1996 and 2000, when he was between 11 and 13 years old.

In his victim impact statement he described how he had previously been let down in connection with the case but hoped he would now get justice.

A fourth boy was between 11 and 13 years old when he was sexually abused by the man between 1999 and 2000.

In his victim statement, this man outlined the serious consequences the abuse has had on his life and relationships. He outlined how he felt like he wasn’t working at his best and could only push so hard before depression and anxiety took hold. Family relationships were damaged and difficult.

Describing the trauma and isolation he felt, he told the court that people generally “had no idea” of the impact of sex crimes on a person’s life.

A fifth victim was the same age when he was also sexually abused by Curtin.

He told the court in his victim impact statement that Curtin’s “horrific actions” had destroyed his entire life in ways he could not have imagined. He said his education, relationships, life and work were all affected. He said he had tried to be happy on the outside, but felt “dead” on the inside.

The sixth boy was orally and anally raped and sexually abused by the suspect between 1999 and 2003 when he was between 10 and 15 years old.

In his victim impact statement he told the court that his view of life had changed since the abuse. He said Curtin, who he called a “devil of a man”, had his youth and innocence taken away.

He described how he behaved, was angry and had problems with relationships. He said he wouldn’t let his family help him because he was embarrassed and ashamed.

He said Curtin has destroyed lives and he should not put people through that again.

The seventh boy was sexually abused at a higher rate than the other boys, with Curtin being convicted of 27 charges of sexual assault and anal rape against him while he was aged between 12 and 16 between 2001 and 2006.

In his victim statement, the man describes how his life was turned upside down by the facts. “It broke me inside and out,” he said, “I turned against the world because I didn’t know who I could trust.”

The last of the boys was sexually abused and verbally raped by the man between 1999 and 2003, when he was 10 to 16 years old.

In his victim impact statement, this man told the court that the abuse had made him feel different from everyone else. He described the enormous effect on his life growing up with depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts.

He said he had missed many opportunities because of the impact the abuse had on his life, but he now wanted to put this behind him and live a happy, normal life, with his self-esteem and self-confidence back.

Some boys reported the abuse in 2000 and gardaí were alerted, but the case made no progress. A follow-up investigation several years later revealed the abuse again and this revelation led to the other men coming forward.

Ms McGinn said the Director of Public Prosecutions believes this falls into the highest category of offences, with a main penalty of up to life imprisonment. Rosin Lacey SC, defending, said Curtin continues to deny the allegations and does not accept the jury’s verdicts.

She said Curtin was a father of four children and recently lost his wife. He had come to Ireland from Britain after a childhood witnessing domestic abuse. He worked as a porter at Kilkenny Hospital for a number of years.

He has a significant psychological history of depression and anxiety. He has engaged in service in the community regarding these issues. Ms Lacey presented letters from three of his children and a further three from family friends regarding their experiences with Curtin and details of his mental health problems.

Counsel asked the court to ensure Curtin had light at the end of the tunnel.
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