JERRY O’KEEFFE'S HORRIFIC ABUSE IN CORK: EX-SOLDIER SENTENCED FOR CHILD RAPE AND SEXUAL ASSAULTS
| Red Rose Database
Cork Rapist
In a deeply disturbing case that has shocked the community of Cork, a man named Jerry O’Keeffe, a former soldier, was sentenced to a decade behind bars for the heinous sexual abuse of his two daughters. The crimes, which spanned several years, involved repeated acts of rape and indecent assault within the family home, leaving lasting scars on the victims.
O’Keeffe, aged 69 and residing at Oakhill, Youghal, Cork, pleaded guilty in the Central Criminal Court to multiple charges, including three counts of rape, five of indecent assault, and one of sexual assault. These charges represented only a fraction of the total allegations, which numbered 78 and covered offenses committed between January 1980 and March 1987. The court heard that the specific charges he admitted to were nine in total, with the most serious involving the rape of his elder daughter, Amy.
Judge Patrick McCarthy expressed his profound disbelief and outrage at the nature of the crimes, stating that it “beggars belief” that a father could commit such acts against his own children. He remarked that each new revelation of abuse was difficult to comprehend and described the case as one of the most disturbing he had encountered. The judge noted that O’Keeffe’s guilty plea covered a significant number of offenses, including the rape and indecent assault of Amy, while the abuse of Melissa appeared to be limited to indecent assault.
Both victims chose to waive their right to anonymity, a decision they hoped would serve to encourage other victims of similar abuse to come forward and seek justice. The court was informed that the abuse of Amy began when she was just eight years old, starting in the living room where her father would molest her while she sat on his knee. The assaults escalated to rape, which O’Keeffe committed in her bedroom. Her sister Melissa recounted that her father would enter her bedroom late at night after returning from the pub and subject her to serious sexual assault, although he stopped short of penetration. Melissa described how she would turn away from him in an attempt to cope with the trauma, which has had a devastating impact on her life.
In her victim impact statement, Amy Barrett described her childhood as “very traumatic,” filled with confusion and terror caused by her father’s crimes. She expressed that her trust in her father was completely betrayed and shared that the abuse left her feeling nervous, afraid, and contemplating suicide to escape the pain. Amy also revealed that her ability to make friends was severely affected and that coming forward to report the abuse was an incredibly difficult process, as it forced her to relive the trauma. Despite this, she expressed gratitude to the Rape Crisis Centre and her supportive husband for their ongoing help. She concluded her statement by saying she carried feelings of guilt, shame, embarrassment, and hurt for years but was now ready to hand those feelings back to her father.
Judge McCarthy emphasized that the abuse inflicted on Amy, which began when she was only eight, was a “considerable and repeated” form of serious assault. He also highlighted that the abuse of Melissa, which started when she was approximately 11, was equally severe. Melissa’s victim impact statement detailed her feelings of isolation, fear, and the pressure she faced from her parents to remain silent. She recounted how she refrained from calling out for her mother during the abuse, fearing repercussions, and how she was pressured to withdraw her initial police statement when she was 16. Melissa also shared that certain smells and sensations trigger her memories of the abuse, making her life particularly difficult in recent times. Despite these hardships, she expressed a sense of empowerment, stating, “If I get a certain smell or if someone moves in a certain way I freak out. But today I finally have the voice that I didn’t have when I was 16.”
Outside the court, Amy spoke about the sense of justice they felt had been achieved. She emphasized that their primary concern was not the length of the sentence but the fact that their father had admitted to his crimes. Amy stated, “For us it was about an admission of guilt, keeping him away from other kids, and obviously for closure for ourselves as well.” She described the sentencing as “fair enough” and reflected on the importance of sending a message that child abuse and rape are unacceptable, regardless of how long it takes for victims to come forward. She admitted feeling a mixture of happiness and sadness, acknowledging that it was difficult to accept that her father was now in prison but also that they would mourn the loss of the father they once knew.
Amy expressed her hope to move on with her life, recognizing that the memories would never fully fade but emphasizing the importance of resilience. She credited the Rape Crisis Centre for their support and encouraged others to come forward, asserting that abuse is never the victim’s fault. She concluded by saying, “I didn’t ask for this, Melissa didn’t either, it was dad, he’s the one that’s in the wrong and I just hope now that we’ll make peace with it and dad will too.”
Judge McCarthy acknowledged the profound pain conveyed through the victims’ statements, noting that the plea of guilty, though late, was a mitigating factor. He described O’Keeffe as “otherwise of good character,” but emphasized that the severity of the crimes warranted a substantial sentence. The court ordered that the sentences for the offenses be served consecutively, resulting in a total of ten years imprisonment—seven years for the rape charges and three years for the sexual assaults.
During a previous hearing in October, Garda Sergeant John Sharkey detailed the nature of the abuse, recounting how O’Keeffe would ask Amy, then only eight, to sit on his lap in the sitting room before subjecting her to sexual assault. The abuse reportedly continued until 1985, when Amy was 12. The court also heard that the abuse of Melissa took place in the family’s home on Catherine’s Street, Youghal, where she said her father would enter her bedroom late at night after returning from the pub and molest her in bed.
It was also revealed that Amy first reported the abuse to the Southern Health Board in 1999 after visiting the Rape Crisis Centre in Cork. At that time, O’Keeffe had agreed to leave the family home, and no further legal action was taken against him. The case remains a stark reminder of the devastating impact of familial abuse and the importance of justice for victims.
O’Keeffe, aged 69 and residing at Oakhill, Youghal, Cork, pleaded guilty in the Central Criminal Court to multiple charges, including three counts of rape, five of indecent assault, and one of sexual assault. These charges represented only a fraction of the total allegations, which numbered 78 and covered offenses committed between January 1980 and March 1987. The court heard that the specific charges he admitted to were nine in total, with the most serious involving the rape of his elder daughter, Amy.
Judge Patrick McCarthy expressed his profound disbelief and outrage at the nature of the crimes, stating that it “beggars belief” that a father could commit such acts against his own children. He remarked that each new revelation of abuse was difficult to comprehend and described the case as one of the most disturbing he had encountered. The judge noted that O’Keeffe’s guilty plea covered a significant number of offenses, including the rape and indecent assault of Amy, while the abuse of Melissa appeared to be limited to indecent assault.
Both victims chose to waive their right to anonymity, a decision they hoped would serve to encourage other victims of similar abuse to come forward and seek justice. The court was informed that the abuse of Amy began when she was just eight years old, starting in the living room where her father would molest her while she sat on his knee. The assaults escalated to rape, which O’Keeffe committed in her bedroom. Her sister Melissa recounted that her father would enter her bedroom late at night after returning from the pub and subject her to serious sexual assault, although he stopped short of penetration. Melissa described how she would turn away from him in an attempt to cope with the trauma, which has had a devastating impact on her life.
In her victim impact statement, Amy Barrett described her childhood as “very traumatic,” filled with confusion and terror caused by her father’s crimes. She expressed that her trust in her father was completely betrayed and shared that the abuse left her feeling nervous, afraid, and contemplating suicide to escape the pain. Amy also revealed that her ability to make friends was severely affected and that coming forward to report the abuse was an incredibly difficult process, as it forced her to relive the trauma. Despite this, she expressed gratitude to the Rape Crisis Centre and her supportive husband for their ongoing help. She concluded her statement by saying she carried feelings of guilt, shame, embarrassment, and hurt for years but was now ready to hand those feelings back to her father.
Judge McCarthy emphasized that the abuse inflicted on Amy, which began when she was only eight, was a “considerable and repeated” form of serious assault. He also highlighted that the abuse of Melissa, which started when she was approximately 11, was equally severe. Melissa’s victim impact statement detailed her feelings of isolation, fear, and the pressure she faced from her parents to remain silent. She recounted how she refrained from calling out for her mother during the abuse, fearing repercussions, and how she was pressured to withdraw her initial police statement when she was 16. Melissa also shared that certain smells and sensations trigger her memories of the abuse, making her life particularly difficult in recent times. Despite these hardships, she expressed a sense of empowerment, stating, “If I get a certain smell or if someone moves in a certain way I freak out. But today I finally have the voice that I didn’t have when I was 16.”
Outside the court, Amy spoke about the sense of justice they felt had been achieved. She emphasized that their primary concern was not the length of the sentence but the fact that their father had admitted to his crimes. Amy stated, “For us it was about an admission of guilt, keeping him away from other kids, and obviously for closure for ourselves as well.” She described the sentencing as “fair enough” and reflected on the importance of sending a message that child abuse and rape are unacceptable, regardless of how long it takes for victims to come forward. She admitted feeling a mixture of happiness and sadness, acknowledging that it was difficult to accept that her father was now in prison but also that they would mourn the loss of the father they once knew.
Amy expressed her hope to move on with her life, recognizing that the memories would never fully fade but emphasizing the importance of resilience. She credited the Rape Crisis Centre for their support and encouraged others to come forward, asserting that abuse is never the victim’s fault. She concluded by saying, “I didn’t ask for this, Melissa didn’t either, it was dad, he’s the one that’s in the wrong and I just hope now that we’ll make peace with it and dad will too.”
Judge McCarthy acknowledged the profound pain conveyed through the victims’ statements, noting that the plea of guilty, though late, was a mitigating factor. He described O’Keeffe as “otherwise of good character,” but emphasized that the severity of the crimes warranted a substantial sentence. The court ordered that the sentences for the offenses be served consecutively, resulting in a total of ten years imprisonment—seven years for the rape charges and three years for the sexual assaults.
During a previous hearing in October, Garda Sergeant John Sharkey detailed the nature of the abuse, recounting how O’Keeffe would ask Amy, then only eight, to sit on his lap in the sitting room before subjecting her to sexual assault. The abuse reportedly continued until 1985, when Amy was 12. The court also heard that the abuse of Melissa took place in the family’s home on Catherine’s Street, Youghal, where she said her father would enter her bedroom late at night after returning from the pub and molest her in bed.
It was also revealed that Amy first reported the abuse to the Southern Health Board in 1999 after visiting the Rape Crisis Centre in Cork. At that time, O’Keeffe had agreed to leave the family home, and no further legal action was taken against him. The case remains a stark reminder of the devastating impact of familial abuse and the importance of justice for victims.