One of the country's most successful amateur boxing coaches has been given a seven-year prison sentence after being convicted on charges of child abuse.
Frank Mulligan from Smithboro, Co Monaghan, had denied the charges of abusing two young boys while coaching them at the local boxing club.
The 63-year-old was convicted after a two-day trial last January.
At the sentencing hearing today, Judge John O'Hagan praised the courage of his victims in coming forward.
Garda Sean Grant told the court that Mulligan had been one of the founder members of the boxing club.
Garda Grant said his two victims, aged 12 and 13 at the time, had, like many others, travelled considerable distances to be coached by him because of his outstanding reputation.
Judge O'Hagan said Mulligan had interfered with the victims in a most disgusting way.
He still denied that he had done anything wrong, however the Judge said he had been convicted by a jury.
He sentenced Mulligan to seven years in prison on charges of assault and buggery which occurred between 1989 and 1997.
