Five out of six people accused of sex assaults on a 13-year-old schoolgirl in South Donegal have now been convicted, with one man awaitiong trial in December.
One man was jailed a year ago for two years and three months on four counts of sex assaults on the girl in the South Donegal area.
Three others last week admitted sex assaults on the girl and they were remanded on bail for sentence later, while the fifth has found guilty in court yesterday.
Leo Forde, an apartment maintenance manager in Limerick, lived in Rathnenney, Laghey, Co. Donegal, at the time of the offences on three consecutive nights in September, 2003.
Judge Gerard Griffin ordered him to be immediately placed on the sex-offenders’ register.
The young woman, who is now 20 years old, was in court sitting one seat behind Forde less than three metres to his left when she heard the verdict that the jury convicted him by a majority of 11 to one.
Forde, on his way out in handcuffs, accused her of lying in court about her age when they had an affair.
He admitted having sex with the girl but insisted he believed she was 17 years of age at the time.
However, the court had been told by investigating gardai the girl had been honest about her age.
Forde was remanded in custody until July 5th for probation reports.
- Thu, 12 Dec 2024
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