This article contains references to rape involving a minor. Reader discretion is advised.
By Niamh O’Donoghue
A woman who was raped by her uncle while he was babysitting her attempted to report the abuse to gardai on two occasions but was rebuffed, the Central Criminal Court has heard.
Michael Poole (65) was unanimously convicted by a jury of 14 counts of raping Lisa Brown on dates between 1980 and 1988. He was also convicted of eight counts of indecent assault.
Poole, of Bowbridge, Kilmainham, Dublin 8, pleaded guilty to 27 counts of indecent assaults but denied the rape charges. Poole, who was born with a thalidomide defect, has no previous convictions.
On Friday, Mr Justice Patrick McGrath jailed Poole for 12 years. Addressing the victim, who was watching by video link, the judge said: “On behalf of the court, I’d like to commend you, Ms Brown, in persisting until you were listened to.
Mr Justice McGrath set a headline sentence of 14 years, suspended the final two years and backdated it for time spent in custody.
The court was told the victim wished to waive her anonymity to allow for her abuser, who was 13 years her senior, to be named.
At a previous hearing last week, Ms Brown (52) read a victim impact statement to the court in which she said her attempts to report the abuse were dismissed.
“When I eventually disclosed the abuse at seventeen, I was already deeply traumatised. My attempts to report what had happened left me feeling unheard and dismissed. That experience reinforced a damaging belief that my voice did not matter and that what had been done to me was something I simply had to endure.”
Ms Brown also outlined the psychological effects the abuse had on her because of the abuse, which started when she was seven and continued until she was 14.
“I now suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. I experience intrusive memories, flashbacks and nightmares that take me straight back to being that frightened little girl. Certain smells, sounds and situations trigger overwhelming distress.
“I have night terrors and wake feeling panicked and unsafe. I remain hyper-vigilant and often struggle to fully relax, even in places that should feel secure. The trauma does not just live in my memories – it lives in my body.”
Antonia Boyle BL, prosecuting, told the court the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) was of the view the offending was in a more serious category with a penalty of between 10 to 15 years’ imprisonment.
This view was based on the position of trust he held, that the abuse happened in the family home where the victim was supposed to feel safe, the age disparity, the severity of abuse and the abuse of power.
Under cross-examination, Detective Garda Jean McDonnell agreed with defence counsel that Ms Brown had twice attempted to make a complaint to gardai about the abuse but was rebuffed.
Patrick Gageby SC, defending, said Ms Brown gave evidence during the trial last February that she went to Finglas Garda Station to make a statement in 1990 but was “rebuffed”. She also tried to make a complaint when she had her baby in 2001.
Counsel said that on two occasions the prosecution had an opportunity to bring a case against his client when he was a younger man.
In plea of mitigation, Mr Gageby said that if Ms Brown had been “appropriately dealt with”, his client would not have been “brought to trial when he is most significantly disabled”. Counsel said his client faces incarceration and is very inhibited in his health.
Counsel said his client had a chronic health problem from birth which was disabling. Poole has been on disability payments from the early 1990s.
Mr Gageby told the court his client has a thalidomide birth defect, suffers from a depressive disorder and has made numerous attempts on his life.
He has physical health problems with his right arm, sleep apnoea, high BMI and is on a “large tranche of medication”. He was previously admitted to hospital due to sepsis. He can ambulate but uses a wheelchair and it would make prison more difficult.
Full victim impact statement of Lisa Brown
“My name is Lisa Brown, and this statement outlines the profound and lasting impact of the sexual abuse and rape I endured at the hands of my uncle, Michael Poole.
From the age of seven, I suffered repeated abuse in my own home in Finglas West — a place where I should have felt safe, protected and cared for. Instead, I was silenced, manipulated and left feeling helpless and alone.
The abuse I suffered as a child has had lifelong consequences. Although the physical acts stopped, the impact never did. It has followed me into every stage of my life and has shaped how I see myself, how I relate to others, and how safe I feel in the world.
For many years, I carried overwhelming shame, fear and confusion. I was made to believe that speaking out would destroy my family and cause terrible consequences. That my Dad would end up in prison and I would never see him again.
When I eventually disclosed the abuse at 17, I was already deeply traumatised. My attempts to report what had happened left me feeling unheard and dismissed. That experience reinforced a damaging belief that my voice did not matter and that what had been done to me was something I simply had to endure.
I now suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. I experience intrusive memories, flashbacks and nightmares that take me straight back to being that frightened little girl. Certain smells, sounds and situations trigger overwhelming distress. I have night terrors and wake feeling panicked and unsafe. I remain hyper-vigilant and often struggle to fully relax, even in places that should feel secure. The trauma does not just live in my memories — it lives in my body.
I have battled anxiety and depression for much of my adult life. There were times when the emotional pain felt unbearable. At 20 years old, overwhelmed by shame and hopelessness, I took an overdose because I could no longer cope with what I was carrying inside. I felt dirty and responsible for something that was never my fault. Looking back, I can see how deeply the abuse damaged my sense of identity and self-worth.
For many years I coped by burying the pain. It has been painful and confronting work, but it has been essential to my healing.
I have also been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, a chronic condition that causes widespread pain and fatigue. I have been advised that prolonged childhood trauma can have long-term physical consequences, and I believe the abuse I endured has affected my physical health. The pain and exhaustion impact my daily life and at times limit what I can do.
The abuse affected my relationships and my ability to feel safe in intimacy. As a young woman, I struggled with aspects of sexual relationships because of what had been done to me. Although I have built a marriage and raised two children, I have had to work incredibly hard to break cycles of shame and secrecy. I have lived with a constant undercurrent of anxiety and an overwhelming need to protect those I love.
What was taken from me was my childhood, my innocence, and my sense of safety and trust. The consequences have been psychological, emotional and physical, and they have lasted decades. I will continue to live with the impact for the rest of my life. Standing here today and speaking openly has taken enormous courage. I cannot change what was done to me, but I can stand here and speak my truth. That is something that can never be taken from me again.”
The court was told Ms Brown was unable to travel today and would like to participate via video link.
Mr Justice McGrath said the aggravating factors were that Poole was in a position of trust and was tasked with minding children but “took advantage of that situation to carry out a series of sexual assaults on a very young child”.
He took account of the age disparity, the abuse of trust, the fear Poole engendered and the threats he made to her. He agreed with the DPP’s view that it “fell well within” the 10 to 15-year category.
“On behalf of the system I can only apologise,” said the judge.
“I doubt very much that such an attitude would be taken in this day and age,” he added.
The judge said her victim impact statement showed “this lady has suffered greatly”.
Mr Justice McGrath said Ms Brown described how her uncle abused her from the ages of seven to 14 by making her perform sex acts on him and he performed sex acts on her. Poole told her that she would be 10 in a few years and would be learning the facts of life.
The judge noted Poole was born with a thalidomide defect and had a deformed hard.
In the first incident, she woke up with his fingers up her vagina. Poole told her she was not allowed to tell anyone or her father would go to prison. She was sharing a room with her sister at a time. This form of abuse continued for a year. He started to take her into her parents’ bedroom and got her to masturbate him and tried to show her how to masturbate herself.
Poole tried to insert his penis into her vagina but because she was too small he was not able to fully penetrate her. When she could not fully accommodate him, he then pushed his penis in between her legs and asked her to squeeze tight.
Some of the abuse happened in her family home in Northway Estate, Finglas West, a castle in St. Margaret’s and some on holidays in Courtown, Co. Wexford. She confronted him when she was around 14 or 15 and the abuse stopped.