ANTHONY HARDIMAN'S HORRIFIC CRIMES IN GALWAY AND MERVUE: NEIGHBOUR'S DEPRAVITY REVEALED

In a chilling case that has shocked the community of Galway, particularly the Mervue area, a 73-year-old man named Anthony Hardiman has been sentenced to prison for a series of heinous sexual offenses committed against his neighbors' young daughters. The disturbing details of this case emerged during a hearing at Galway Circuit Criminal Court, where the severity and duration of the abuse were laid bare.

Judge Raymond Groarke delivered a stern verdict on Wednesday afternoon, condemning Hardiman for his actions and imposing a sentence of seven years in prison, with the final year suspended. The judge described the crimes as part of a “persistent regime of depravity,” highlighting the long-term suffering inflicted upon the victims, who are now women in their forties and fifties. The court heard that the abuse had been ongoing almost daily for a decade, a period marked by systematic exploitation and terror.

Anthony Hardiman, a former ballroom dancer residing on Cardinal Cushing Road in Mervue, Galway, was found guilty of engaging in repeated sexual abuse of two young girls from his neighborhood. The court was told that the victims endured a “reign of terror,” with the abuse deeply affecting their lives well into adulthood. The impact statements presented to the court painted a grim picture of the lasting trauma and emotional scars left by Hardiman’s actions.

Throughout the proceedings, Hardiman’s defense team attempted to argue that he and his family were also victims, citing the intense media coverage following his trial in December of the previous year. However, Judge Groarke dismissed these claims, asserting that the defendant’s refusal to admit guilt and his attempts to portray the victims as liars had only worsened his situation. The judge emphasized that the children, now adults, were intelligent and caring individuals who could not have fabricated such traumatic experiences.

“You called these girls liars and suggested they had created depraved fiction,” Judge Groarke stated. “Children do not invent these kinds of stories. These are two resilient women who have endured unimaginable suffering. You exploited their vulnerability, systematically abusing them over many years, moving from house to house to conceal your crimes. The consequences of your actions are evident in their victim impact statements.”

The judge further explained that Hardiman specifically targeted the girls because of their vulnerable upbringing. He pursued them relentlessly, seeking sexual gratification at their expense. When one girl was no longer available, he turned his attention to the other, continuing his cycle of abuse. The court heard that the depravity of his acts escalated over time, with the younger sister, who was only six years old at the start of the abuse, being subjected to even more severe acts when she was 13. The case was described by Judge Groarke as a “litany of depravity,” illustrating the horrifying extent of the crimes committed.

In conclusion, the court recognized the profound and lasting damage caused by Hardiman’s actions, condemning his conduct as both methodical and utterly depraved. The sentence reflects the gravity of his crimes and the need for justice for the victims, who have endured a lifetime of pain stemming from the defendant’s calculated and heinous abuse.