‘I’ll break your legs’

Monaghan man’s threat to keep abuse quiet

SENTENCING has been deferred in the case of a 23-year-old Monaghan man who threatened to “break” his female victim’s legs if she ever uttered a word about the years of sexual abuse he put her through.

So impactful was the abuse and so afraid was the then underage girl of the defendant, who was also a minor at the time, that she had attempted self-harm and suicide on several occasions.

The court heard how he had initially encouraged her to take part in a “truth or dare” game, during which he urged her to touch him intimately. It spiralled from there, worse when the male had either consumed alcohol or drugs.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted sexually assaulting the female when his case came before the recent sittings of the Criminal Circuit Court, as well as other offences including sexual assault, false imprisonment and coercion.

The sex assault occurred at a location in Monaghan between May 2017 and May 2019, contrary to the Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act, 1990.

The male also pleaded guilty to inducing a child under 15 to touch him during the same period, contrary to the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act, 2017, as well as engaging in sexual activity in the presence of the same female, who was known to him.

During the two-year period covered by the offences, the victim was aged between 11 and 13 years; while the defendant himself was aged between 14 and 16 years.

The original indictment included two further counts of a similar nature, along with allegations of false imprisonment and threatening violence against the same injured party between May 2016 and May 2021.

The case had previously been listed for trial, but the accused entered guilty pleas before Judge John Aylmer at the April 2026 sittings of Monaghan Circuit Court.

Detective Garda Cathal Doherty gave evidence, telling the court that the injured party contacted gardaí because she and another young person, a male, were living in fear of the accused.

The young woman described being physically and emotionally abused by the defendant, and was formally interviewed by gardaí in December 2021.

Det Gda Doherty confirmed to Frank Martin BL, prosecuting, that the woman is now living elsewhere in the country.

Details from her interview painted a disturbing picture of intimidation and fear.

Judge Aylmer heard that the defendant’s behaviour could become worse when under the influence of cannabis or alcohol.

Among the allegations recounted was a chilling threat: the defendant warned he would “break” the young girl’s legs if she told anyone what was happening to her.

The victim also described being physically assaulted by the defendant on occasion. Matters improved for a time after the defendant began attending a psychologist, but the court heard that when he was not taking his prescribed medication, that he could “go on a rampage”.

A victim impact statement, read aloud by Det Gda Doherty on behalf of the young woman, who was present at the back of the courtroom, revealed the devastating toll the abuse took on her.

She had attempted self-harm and suicide on several occasions and recalled how, through the abuse, she had lost her innocence and dignity.

However, the statement also conveyed a determination to move forward. The victim said she was now “stronger” and would continue to build a happier life, expressing a belief that she would gain further strength as long as the defendant remained behind bars, where she believes he belonged.

The court was informed of the defendant’s previous convictions, accumulated since 2022, including burglary, trespass, unauthorised taking of vehicles, obstruction of gardaí, public intoxication and threatening a breach of the peace.

His previous penalties included community service, suspended sentences and custodial sentences. He is currently in custody for breaching High Court bail in connection with other matters before the courts.

Defence counsel, James McGowan SC, pointed out that all of the defendant’s convictions occurred after the historic matters now before the circuit court, which date back to when his client was still a child himself.

Det Gda Doherty agreed the defendant came from a “dysfunctional” family.

At the request of Mr McGowan, Judge Aylmer agreed to obtain a psychologist’s report and said he would also seek a probation report before passing sentence.

Sentencing was adjourned to the January sittings of Monaghan Circuit Court.

* This article was published with support from the Court Reporting Scheme