GER HEHIR OF CO CLARE SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULTS ON TEEN GIRL IN RUA AND DRUMCAVAN

In a case that has shocked the community of Ruan and Drumcavan in County Clare, Ger Hehir, a 58-year-old stable owner, has been sentenced to a total of five years in prison after being convicted of multiple sexual offenses committed against a teenage girl over a period of three years.

Hehir’s conviction followed a retrial at the Central Criminal Court, where he was found guilty of four counts of sexual assault and one charge of raping the girl. The incidents took place between late 2010 and 2013, with the first assault occurring when the girl was just 16 years old.

Throughout the trial, Hehir, who resides in Drumcavan, Ruan, maintained a stance of not guilty. Despite this, the court found sufficient evidence to convict him of the heinous acts. Judge Robert Eagar handed down a sentence of seven years for the rape charge, but he suspended the final 18 months, contingent upon Hehir’s participation in a sexual offender’s rehabilitation program, maintaining good behavior both during his imprisonment and for three years following his release, and keeping the peace.

In addition to the rape sentence, Hehir received five-year terms for each of the four sexual assault charges. All sentences are to run concurrently, and they are backdated to November 21, 2018, the date Hehir was taken into custody following his conviction.

The court heard harrowing details of the first assault, which took place in late 2010. The victim, then 16, was leaving one of Hehir’s stables when he allegedly pinned her against a wall, placed his hands inside her top, and attempted to kiss her. The situation escalated later that year when Hehir invited her into his room for a cigarette, during which he raped her. When she expressed her age, telling him she was only 17, Hehir reportedly responded, “You may be only 17, but you’re years above your age,” despite her being just 16 at the time.

The victim delivered an emotional impact statement, describing the profound and lasting effects of the abuse. She told Hehir directly, “You ruined everything,” and revealed that she has been coping with the trauma through alcohol and drugs. She also expressed her feelings of frustration, stating, “I feel you still don’t understand the devastating effect this has had on me,” highlighting the ongoing emotional scars inflicted by his actions.