Ireland 82-year-old retired bus driver jailed for two years for sexually assaulting young man
Denis Carey, an 82-year-old retired bus driver from Dromcollogher, Co Limerick, befriended a man in his 30s with an intellectual disability and sexually assaulted him on various dates in May and June 2019, at locations in Cork and Limerick. The abuse was reported to gardaí after the victim told a neighbour that something was not right. Carey pleaded guilty at Cork Circuit Criminal Court to five counts of sexual assault of a protected person, and Judge Helen Boyle remanded him in custody for sentence. In May 2023 he was sentenced, with the Irish Times reporting a two-year jail term and Corkbeo reporting four years with the last two suspended.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced3 May
2 reports
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Denis Carey pleaded guilty to five counts of sexual assault of a man with an intellectual disability.
- Carey befriended the complainant, who thought he was a nice old man, and was aware he had an intellectual disability, also described as a learning disability.
- The assaults began with Carey putting his hand on the man's leg and then rubbing his penis.
- Where
- The offences took place at different locations in Cork and Limerick, and some took place in the victim's home while his mother was away.
- When
- The offences took place on various dates in May and June 2019, over a two-month period from May 2019.
- Cause
- Carey befriended the victim before sexually assaulting him.
- The victim told a neighbour that something was not right, and the neighbour alerted the family.
- Investigation
- The family contacted gardaí, and an investigation was launched into the complaint.
- Charges
- Carey pleaded guilty at Cork Circuit Criminal Court to five counts of sexual assault of a protected person.
- In court
- Judge Helen Boyle said an aggravating factor was that Carey had befriended the injured party, and she remanded him in custody for sentence.
- Sentence
- The Irish Times reported that Carey was jailed for two years, while Corkbeo reported he was jailed for four years with the last two suspended.
- Judge Boyle set a headline sentence of six years, reduced it to four for the guilty plea, and suspended the final two years.
- Other details
- Carey had an 18-month suspended sentence imposed in December 2020, and a 2020 conviction for sexual exploitation of a child.
- The sexual assault offence carries a maximum sentence of 14 years.
20 statements extracted from the articles
- whatCarey pleaded guilty to five counts of sexual assault of the man. (corkbeo.ie)
- whatCarey befriended the complainant, who thought he was a nice old man. (corkbeo.ie)
- whatCarey was aware the man had a learning disability. (corkbeo.ie)
- whatDenis Carey, 82, a retired bus driver, was jailed for two years after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting a young man. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe case was heard at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. (corkbeo.ie)
- whereThe offences took place at different locations in Cork and Limerick. (irishtimes.com)
- whereSome of the abuse took place in the victim's own home while his mother was away. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe offences occurred over a two-month period from May 2019. (corkbeo.ie)
- whenThe offences occurred on various dates in May and June 2019. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe abuse was reported to gardaí after a neighbour told the family. (corkbeo.ie)
- causeCarey befriended the victim before sexually assaulting him. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeCarey pleaded guilty to five counts of sexual assault of a protected person. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge said an aggravating factor was that Carey had befriended the injured party. (corkbeo.ie)
- courtJudge Helen Boyle remanded Carey in custody for sentence. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceCarey was jailed for two years. (corkbeo.ie)
- sentenceCarey was jailed for four years, with the last two years suspended. (corkbeo.ie)
- sentenceJudge Boyle set a headline sentence of six years, reduced it to four for the guilty plea, and suspended the final two years. (irishtimes.com)
- otherCarey had received an 18-month suspended sentence in December 2020 for the sexual exploitation of a child. (corkbeo.ie)
- otherCarey had a previous conviction from 2020 for sexual exploitation of a child. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe sexual assault offence carries a maximum sentence of 14 years. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 4 May2023‘He took advantage of me...I thought he was a nice old man,’ says sex assault victim
Sentencing report. Details the sentence, the aggravating and mitigating factors, and a previous 2020 conviction for sexual exploitation of a child.
convicted, Denis Carey, 82, male, named, irish (judged from name)Denis Careyvictim, 30s, male - 3 May202382-year-old jailed for sexually assaulting a man with an intellectual disability
Sentencing report from Cork Circuit Criminal Court. The headline and opening text say he was jailed for two years, while the later text says four years with the last two suspended. The article adds the court hearing details, the victim's statement, how the abuse was reported, and his previous suspended sentence.
victim, around 30, maleconvicted, Denis Carey, 82, male, named, irish (judged from name)Denis Carey