Man who sexually abused two young girls jailed for 8 years

By Fiona Ferguson

A Dublin man who sexually abused two young girls has been jailed for eight years.

The victims of Peter Doyle (68) wish to retain their anonymity but were happy for him to be named.

Doyle abused the girls over 20 years ago while they were aged between six and nine years old.

The Central Criminal Court heard that both women had been deeply affected by the abuse.

The first woman outlined that her childhood memories had been tainted by the sexual abuse.

She said she had felt ashamed and that she no longer wanted to be alive so that it would all go away.

The second woman said she had been just six years old when her innocence was taken and not a day goes by when she does not feel the impact of the abuse.

She said she felt dirty, ashamed and scared and no one had believed her when she tried to confide in others what was happening.

Doyle, of Gleann Na hEorna, Springfield, Tallaght, pleaded guilty to indecent assault of the first girl on dates between 1988 and 1991.

He was aged between 32 and 35 years old at that time.

He also pleaded guilty to four counts of indecent assault and one count of rape of the second child on dates between 1977 and 1980.

He was then aged between 21 and 24 years old.

Passing sentence today, Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo said it was clear from the victim impact statements in this case that there was deep and abiding hurt as a result of the offending.

He thanked the two women for coming forward and making statements.

Mr Justice Naidoo said the aggravating factors in the case included the age of the injured parties, the age disparity, the harm done and the breach of trust.

He set a headline sentence of 15 years imprisonment.

The judge noted mitigating factors in the case included Doyle’s guilty plea, his lack of previous convictions, no further offending, good work history, an apology offered through counsel and a degree of remorse.

Mr Justice Naidoo imposed consecutive sentences totalling eight years’ imprisonment.

An investigating garda told Eileen O’Leary SC, prosecuting, that the first woman came forward and made a statement to gardai in 2022. She disclosed that she believed a second girl may also have been abused. Garda approached the second woman and she also made a statement.

The court heard that both women had told adults in their lives what occurred many years before they went to gardai.

One of the girls was told that the accused man was “just experimenting.”

Doyle was questioned by gardai and made no admission, denying all allegations.

 Ms O’Leary said it was the view of the Director of Public Prosecutions that this case fell into the “more serious” category of cases, indicting a headline sentence of between 10 and 15 years.

 In her victim impact statement, the first women labelled Doyle a “pathetic coward” and a “monster”.

She described the hugely damaging effect of the abuse on her life and mental health.

The second woman said she had felt the impact of the abuse throughout her life and it had an extremely adverse effect on her mental health.

She said she had gone through her life hoping she was the only victim but her worst fears were realised when the first woman came forward.

Both women described how they had come forward hoping to protect other children.

James Dwyer SC, defending, said his client wished to offer an apology to the two women.

He asked the court to take into account his client’s guilty plea which he submitted was of significant value as the women did not need to be re-traumatised by giving evidence before a jury.

Mr Dwyer said his client was now before the court as a man approaching his seventies, facing sentence for offences committed in his twenties and thirties.

Counsel said his client had a good work history, mainly as a shopfitter, and lived alone prior to going into custody.

He said Doyle had expressed remorse and had no other convictions.