A Donegal man who sexually abused and exploited a young girl has been jailed for 15 years.
Alan Brennan (39) of Emmett Park, Castlefin, Co Donegal, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to sample counts of rape, oral rape, sexual assault and sexual exploitation on dates between 2019 to 2022.
The court heard the young woman wishes to preserve her anonymity but does not object to Brennan’s name being published. She was in her early teenage years when she was abused.
Brennan has 10 previous convictions, mainly for road traffic offences but also for harassment.
Passing sentence today, Mr Justice David Keane commended the young woman for the fortitude and initiative she had displayed in preserving a folder of screenshots of her communications with Brennan “in the midst of her ordeal.”
He wished her well in her continued recovery from the terrible ordeal she had to endure at the hands of Brennan. He noted the offending had a profound effect on her.
Mr Justice Keane said this had been a campaign of rape and other offences over a three-year period and demonstrated a remorseless attitude on the part of Brennan.
He noted there had been at least one death threat and Brennan used images he had of the girl to trick her into a position of vulnerability. He also noted the age disparity that Brennan had exploited at the outset of the offending by grooming the child.
The judge set a global headline sentence of 18 years, before considering mitigation.
Mr Justice Keane took into account Brennan’s “belated” guilty pleas. He said due to his previous convictions he could be given limited or no credit for previous good behaviour.
He noted Brennan had a difficult upbringing and a good work history. He noted Brennan is on medication for anxiety and attending rehabilitation programs in prison.
The judge said however that the probation report made for disturbing reading, with Brennan displaying little insight and attributing blame to the injured party.
He said Brennan portrays himself as the victim. He said Brennan’s apology, submitted at the last hearing, appeared to be no more that a “pro forma recital” to secure a more lenient disposal of his case.
Mr Justice Keane imposed a sentence of 16 years and suspended the final year on strict conditions, including post release supervision.
An investigating garda told Eoghan Cole SC, prosecuting, the abuse came to light when images of the child were found on Brennan’s phone. The girl was spoken to by gardaí and later came forward to make a formal report.
During the sentence hearing, the court heard Brennan would text the girl requesting her to do acts such as stripping. She was also forced to take part in video calls and he would send her sexual material of himself. He would later threaten to make images of her public.
The abuse of the child included rape, oral rape and sexual assault. Brennan also gave her alcohol.
She said in her statement she did not feel as if she had a choice. She said she was scared and felt she had to do what he asked due to the pictures he had.
The court heard on one occasion she attempted to grab his phone and was punched and dragged by Brennan. He then verbally abused her and threatened to kill her.
Brennan was arrested and denied involvement. When the material on his phone was put to him, he said he would accept anything that was on his phone.
The young woman had preserved a folder of screenshots of her communication with Brennan which gardai were able to use to corroborate her account.
In her victim impact statement, the young girl told Brennan he had taken her innocence and left her feeling confused and broken. “You made a choice,” she told Brennan, “I didn’t, I was a child.”
She told the court that the abuse had ended but the pain had not and continued to affect how she thought and felt. She described her efforts to put the pieces of her life back together.
She said she will always carry pain of the years he stole from her and will never get back her innocence or the person that she could have been.
Mr Cole said the DPP view was the case merited higher than 15 years’ imprisonment. He noted how the child had been threatened and sexual images of her obtained by grooming.
Colm Smyth SC, defending, acknowledged this was a serious case. He said Brennan has been in custody since May of last year and has had time to reflect on his wrongdoing and consider his position. He is engaged in rehabilitation programs in prison.
Counsel said his client had provided an apology outlining that he would sincerely like to apologise for the stress, pain and anguish he had caused. Brennan said he regretted his actions.
