Ireland Case No. 7877Sexual offences against a child (indecent assault and sexual assault) · Co. Dublin
Dublin woman's jail sentence for sexually abusing her son reduced on appeal
Suzanna Hassett (66), of Westbourne Grove, Clondalkin, Dublin, pleaded guilty to 13 counts of indecent assault and four counts of sexual assault against her son, Fionn Daly, for abuse between 1984 and 1995, from his infancy until he was 11. Her son made a complaint to gardaí in 2017. In November 2022 Judge Martin Nolan sentenced her to eight years, with the final 18 months suspended. In July 2023 the Court of Appeal reduced the overall sentence to six years, with the final 18 months suspended, finding the original sentence too high.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced11 Jul
2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Suzanna Hassett sexually abused her son, Fionn Daly, from when he was an infant until he was 11.
- Where
- Hassett, aged 66, is from Westbourne Grove, Clondalkin, Dublin.
- When
- The indecent assaults took place between 1984 and 1987, from when the son was born until he was three.
- The sexual assaults took place between 1992 and 1995, when the son was aged between seven and 11.
- Investigation
- The son made a complaint to gardaí in 2017.
- Charges
- Hassett pleaded guilty to 13 counts of indecent assault and four counts of sexual assault against her son.
- In court
- Judge Martin Nolan described the abuse as a huge betrayal of trust.
- Hassett's counsel argued at the Court of Appeal that the sentence was too high, and the court found it was.
- The Court of Appeal set a headline sentence of five years for each of the two series of offending, reduced to three years each after mitigation.
- Sentence
- Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Hassett in November 2022 to eight years, with the final 18 months suspended.
- The Court of Appeal quashed the eight-year sentence and imposed an overall six years, with the final 18 months suspended, the two series to run consecutively.
- Other details
- Hassett has no previous convictions.
- Daly waived his anonymity at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to allow his mother to be named, and said in his victim impact statement that he is still trying to come to terms with the extreme abuse.
21 statements extracted from the articles
- whatSuzanna Hassett pleaded guilty to 13 counts of indecent assault against her son. (irishtimes.com)
- whatSuzanna Hassett sexually abused her son from when he was an infant until he was 11. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereHassett is from Westbourne Grove, Clondalkin, Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe indecent assaults took place between 1984 and 1987, from when the son was born until he was three. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe sexual assaults took place between 1992 and 1995, when the son was aged between seven and 11. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe victim made a complaint to gardaí in 2017 about incidents between 1992 and 1995. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeHassett also pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual assault against her son. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHassett pleaded guilty to 13 counts of indecent assault on dates between 1984 and 1987. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeHassett also pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual assault on dates between 1992 and 1995, when her son was seven and 11. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe son made a complaint to gardaí in 2017. (irishtimes.com)
- courtHassett's counsel argued at the Court of Appeal that the sentence was simply too high. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe Court of Appeal found the sentence was simply too high. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe Court of Appeal set a headline sentence of five years for the first series of offending, reduced to three years after mitigation. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe Court of Appeal set a headline sentence of five years for the second series of offending, reduced to three years with mitigation. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceJudge Martin Nolan sentenced Hassett to a total of eight years, with the final 18 months suspended. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe Court of Appeal quashed the original sentence. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe Court of Appeal's overall sentence is six years, with the final 18 months suspended. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceJudge Martin Nolan sentenced Hassett in November 2022 to eight years, with the final 18 months suspended. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe two sentences are to run consecutively. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherHassett has no previous convictions. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe victim said in his victim impact statement that he is still trying to come to terms with the extreme abuse. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 12 Jul2023Dublin woman who sexually abused her infant son has jail time reduced on appeal
Reports the Court of Appeal's decision to quash the eight-year sentence imposed in November 2022 and replace it with six years, with the final 18 months suspended.
convicted, Suzanna Hassett, 66, female, named, irish (judged from name)Suzanna Hassettvictim, Fionn Daly, male, irish (judged from name)Fionn Daly - 11 Jul2023Woman convicted of sexually abusing son has sentence reduced by two years
Court of Appeal reduced the sentence imposed by Judge Martin Nolan from eight years, with the final 18 months suspended, to six years, with the final 18 months suspended. The offences were committed between 1984 and 1995.
convicted, Suzanna Hassett, 66, female, named, irish (judged from name)Suzanna Hassettvictim, Fionn Daly, male, irish (judged from name)Fionn Daly