CHRISTOPHER ELLIS SENTENCED TO FIVE YEARS IN PRISON IN DUBLIN FOR SEXUAL ASSAULTS ON THREE GIRLS

In November 2003, a 48-year-old man named Christopher Ellis was sentenced to five years in prison for sexually assaulting three young girls from west Dublin over a period of several years.

Ellis, who hails from Cloughjordan in Tipperary, was found guilty by a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury on 37 counts of sexual and indecent assault committed between 1985 and 1992. The victims, now in their early twenties, gave testimony after the jury, in a unanimous vote, convicted Ellis on the third day of his trial.

Prior to the trial, Ellis pleaded guilty to one charge of indecent assault against one of the women. During the proceedings, the victims expressed a wish for Ellis to be publicly named in the media.

Judge Frank O’Donnell stated he would resist the temptation to impose consecutive sentences. He noted that there was no indication Ellis showed remorse or understanding of his actions, and he was convinced that Ellis was a paedophile.

The victims revealed that they would never forget the abuse they suffered. Judge O’Donnell remarked that Ellis must also remember his actions, but emphasized that he caused them trauma, exacerbated when one victim relived her experience through the trial.

Reports indicated all three victims had suffered psychological effects and faced ongoing life challenges as a result of the assaults.

Concluding the case, Judge O’Donnell affirmed that Ellis received a fair trial.