JOHN PHELAN SENTENCED IN LAOIS FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF YOUNG GIRL

In a case that has shocked the community of Co Laois, John Phelan, a man with a troubling history, has been sentenced to nine years in prison for a series of heinous sexual offenses committed against a young girl. The victim, now 41 years old, bravely came forward to recount how her life was irreparably altered by Phelan’s actions during her teenage years.

According to her testimony, she initially took a summer job working with Phelan, who was involved in horse trading and farming activities across the local area. Her hope was to gain experience and work towards her dream of becoming a veterinarian. However, her innocent aspirations were shattered when Phelan, then aged 54, exploited her trust and subjected her to multiple acts of sexual assault and rape at various locations in Laois, including his own residence.

Phelan, who resides in Kilbricken, Mountrath, Co Laois, pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual assault and two counts of rape. The offenses took place between 1992 and 1993, when the girl was between 14 and 16 years old. His guilty pleas came after the trial had already begun, following the victim’s direct testimony, but before cross-examination could take place.

It is important to note that Phelan has a prior criminal record. In 2008, he served a seven-year sentence for the rape and sexual abuse of a young girl in 1989 and 1990, when she was between nine and eleven years old. During that earlier trial, Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy had adjourned sentencing after hearing the evidence. She also pointed out that Phelan had previously lied during a television programme while serving his earlier sentence, claiming he had not engaged in a “sexual deviant lifestyle” since 1990, a statement the judge described as “simply not true.”

Further investigations revealed that Phelan was released in 2013 under post-release supervision. During this period, authorities launched an investigation into the current allegations. A probation report presented to the court indicated that officers found it difficult to accept Phelan’s assertion that he did not have a sexual preference for minors, suggesting ongoing concerns about his behavior.

The victim impact statement was read aloud in court, highlighting the profound and lasting effects of Phelan’s abuse. The woman described how her life’s trajectory was forever changed, losing her innocence, her virginity, and her childhood dreams of becoming a vet. The statement also detailed how Phelan groomed and manipulated her into submission, leaving her emotionally and psychologically scarred. The court heard that some of the abuse occurred while Phelan’s wife was pregnant with twins, and that he had even raped her in his marital bed, further emphasizing the calculated and exploitative nature of his actions.

Ms Justice Murphy reflected on the fact that Phelan’s guilty plea, although late, served to validate the victim’s account and demonstrated her courage in coming forward. She expressed the view that Phelan’s decision to plead guilty was likely influenced by the strength of the victim’s evidence, perhaps as an attempt to salvage what remained of his reputation amid the wreckage of his past.

In her sentencing remarks, Ms Justice Murphy emphasized the severity of the crimes, describing them as “calculated and exploitative.” She sentenced Phelan to nine years in prison, with the final 18 months suspended. Additionally, she ordered that he serve a three-year period of post-release supervision to monitor his conduct after his release from prison.