A 73-year-old man who sexually abused a number of young girls in his neighbourhood over two decades has been jailed for four years.
Thomas Harmon, with an address at Abbey Grove, Navan, Co Meath, and formerly of Arthur Griffith Park, Lucan, pleaded guilty to indecent assault and sexual assault against four girls between 1975 and 1996.
The Central Criminal Court heard Harmon had sexually abused four young girls beginning when they were aged between five and eight.
The abuse took place over almost two decades during games of hide-and-seek in his neighbourhood in Lucan, at his home, in his car and on trips to the park.
Gardaí said after the first complaint was made Harmon denied the charges but he later pleaded guilty before his trial.
His victims, three of whom are sisters, said they wanted him identified.
They spoke about the effect on their family and their decision to go public about their ordeal.
In her victim impact statement Sharon Gallagher said she had lived with the guilt of knowing she could have protected her younger sisters by speaking out sooner.
She said abuse 'is not like a broken arm or leg', it takes a lifetime to heal.
Judge Patricia Ryan said Harmon had breached the position of trust and authority placed in him when he was allowed to take the children on trips.
She imposed sentences ranging from 18 months to four years to be served concurrently. He will also be placed on the sex offenders register for ten years.
Sharon Gallagher said she was happy with the sentence and that she and her sisters were trying to rebuild their lives and move on.
She said her decision to go public was based on her belief that 'the more people stay quiet, the more abuse can continue'.
Ms Gallagher said people needed to know who her abuser was and that people in the area should know who he was. She concluded by saying: 'look after your children'.
