​‘Warped’ grandfather abused his granddaughters and two friends in Longford

​A judge has heard how a 'warped' 69 year-old man grandad sexually abused four young girls, including two of his granddaughters, who were aged between 12 and 13.

​The defendant cannot be named to protect the anonymity of the victims appeared in Longford Circuit Court last week after pleading guilty in July to a multitude of charges.

Three of the victims live in the county Longford area and one is from another Leinster county but visited relatives in the area regularly.

Diana Stuart SC, prosecuting, who led a Detective Garda through his evidence, said that Anna *(Not her real name)* is a half sister of another victim Kelly (Not her real name)* and both were sexually abused by their grandfather.

She stated the two girls, whose father is a son of the defendant, were present in court and they had 'always enjoyed a close relationship not only as half sisters but also as friends'.

Anna was 12 when she was abused while Kelly and Anna's two friends Niamh and Serena *(Not their real names)* were all aged 12 and 13 at the time of the offending.

Ms Stuart said the defendant is charged with sample counts of sexual assault of approximately one count per week against Anna spanning a timeframe from March 1, 2021 until May 9, 2022 at various locations around the North Longford area.

The defendant was also charged with one count of sexual exploitation covering similar dates and one count of false imprisonment.

There are two other offences that relate to Anna and they involve 'photographs that were found of Anna on the defendant's mobile phone.

Ms Stuart said Kelly *(Not her real name)* was also sexually abused by her grandfather who is facing sample counts of sexual assault on her between March 2021 and April 2022, one count of sexual exploitation during the same timeframe and one count of false imprisonment.

The court heard the defendant has admitted sexually exploiting Niamh and Serena on dates in 2022.

Ms Stuart said the offending came to light when on May 9, 2022 when Anna's mother borrowed her phone as there was something wrong with her device and she discovered 'written and voice note messages' on her Whatsapp.

"She was of the view that the messages were of a sexual nature and that they were sent from the accused man to [Anna] his granddaughter and they included a message that said, 'Send me a picture of your f***y'."

Ms Stuart said the mother was extremely concerned and she organised to meet up with some of the family members and both her and Anna's father attended a county Longford garda station and they spoke with two gardaí.

The court heard the concerned mother had also asked Anna if her grandfather had touched her and the young girl, who was still only 12 at that stage, broke down in tears.

Ms Stuart who continued to lead Detective Garda Lynn through the evidence said Anna "pointed to her chest and vagina when she was asked by her mother where her grandfather had touched her" and he replied that was correct.

The barrister said the young victim attended the garda station with her parents and her phone was handed in to gardaí and it was examined by an officer.

"He retrieved various voice notes and text messages that had been received from [the defendant] requesting images and other inappropriate messages of a sexual nature.

"Those messages were evident on the Whatsapp application," Ms Stuart added.

Barry Whyte SC, defending, addressed Judge Connolly and said his client has alleged that he was a victim of sexual abuse himself as a child and that led to a 'warped mentality' and 'warped rationale' where be began offending himself.

Judge Connolly addressed the parents of the victims and appealed to them not to blame themselves.

"In all of these types of cases I'm conscious there is an element of parental guilt," he said.

"But we are entitled when we leave our children with people we trust, especially people such as a grandfather, to believe they are safe."​

Judge Connolly adjourned the case for finalisation on October 16.