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 children, which began 30 years ago and continued over 12 years, deeply affected the victims throughout their lives.

They described Curtin (59) variously as a “monster”, “devil”, “measurer” and a “creep”.

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

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

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

The now-adult plaintiffs have indicated they wish to remain anonymous but have no problem with Curtin’s name.

Sentencing today/yesterday (MON), Madam Justice Eileen Creeden said it was clear from all the men’s victim impact statements that they had found the court process extremely difficult and had been traumatized by having to go back and relive the events in evidence.

She said the abuse had a profoundly negative effect on the men’s entire lives, including their relationships, family dynamics, ability to trust and not reaching their full potential in life.

The judge said she had to look at Curtin’s rehabilitation and reintegration into the community, but noted that a psychological evaluation indicated he continued to deny the allegations and had been diagnosed with a depressive disorder.

She said she would benefit from attending a sex offender treatment program to address and reduce the risk of recidivism.

Mrs Justice Creedon set a maximum sentence of 20 years. She said she could identify no mitigation, noting that Curtin fully contested the trial and did not apologize or acknowledge the jury’s verdicts.

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

During the trial, the court heard that the offenses involved eight young boys who described how Curtin abused them in his homes and also in other rural areas. Dominic McGinn SC, prosecuting, said the offending followed a similar pattern in each case, with Curtin “luring them into conversation with the offer of cigarettes” at around 11 and then inviting them to his house “where he would blow them up innocence. , naivety and confusion”.

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

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

In his victim impact statement, the man described the negative and continuing effects of the abuse on his life and family. He told the court of the “massive burden” the legal process had placed on them, but said he would “do it all over again” to put away a rapist and child abuser like Curtin.

A second male, aged between 11 and 12, was sexually assaulted on dates between 1997 and 1999.

This man told the court that the murders 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’s time John Curtin’s life is affected and he pays for what he’s done.”

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

In his victim impact statement, he described how he was disappointed about the previous case but hoped he would get justice now.

A fourth boy was aged between 11 and 13 when he was sexually assaulted by the man on dates between 1999 and 2000.

In his victim impact statement, this man outlined the serious effects the abuse had on his life and relationships. He emphasized how he felt he was not working to his full potential and could only push himself so much before depression and anxiety set in. Family relationships were damaged and difficult.

He described the trauma and isolation he felt and told the court that generally “people have no idea” about the effects of sex offenses on a person’s life.

A fifth victim was a similar age when he was also sexually assaulted by Curtin.

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

The sixth boy was raped and sexually assaulted orally and anally by the accused when he was between 10 and 15 years old on dates between 1999 and 2003.

In his victim impact statement, he told the court that since the abuse, his outlook on life was different. He said Curtin, whom he called “a devil of a man” took away his youth and innocence.

He described how he behaved, was angry and had difficulty in relationships. He said he would not let his family help him because he was ashamed and embarrassed.

He said Curtin ruined lives and should not be allowed to put people through that again.

The seventh boy was sexually assaulted more often than the other boys, with Curtin convicted of 27 counts of sexual assault and anal rape against him when he was aged 12 to 16 on dates between 2001 and 2006.

In his victim impact statement, the man described how his life had been turned upside down by the offences. “It broke me inside and out,” he said, “I turned the world upside down because I didn’t know who I could trust.”

The last of the boys was sexually assaulted and orally raped by the man between the ages of 10 and 16 on dates between 1999 and 2003.

In his victim impact statement, the man told the court the abuse made him feel he was different from everyone else. He described the huge effect on his life as he grew up suffering from depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts.

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

Some of the boys reported the abuse in 2000 and the police were alerted, but the case did not progress. The abuse came to light again during a follow-up investigation a few years later and this revelation prompted the other men to come forward.

Ms McGinn said it was the opinion of the Director of Public Prosecutions that this fell into the highest category of offence, with a maximum sentence of up to life in prison. Rosin Lacey SC, defending, said Curtin continued to deny the allegations and did not accept the jury’s verdicts.

She said Curtin was a father of four and had recently lost his wife. He came to Ireland from the UK after a childhood of domestic abuse. He worked as a porter at Kilkenny Hospital for several years.

He has a considerable psychological history of depression and anxiety. Engaged with community services on these issues. Ms Lacey handed over letters from three of her children and a further three from family friends relating to their experience with Curtin and details of his mental health issues.

The lawyer asked the court to ensure that Curtin was given the light at the end of the tunnel.
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