MAN JAILED FOR HISTORIC SEXUAL ASSAULT OF TWO YOUNG GIRLS
A man convicted of sexually abusing two young girls over several years received a two-year prison sentence.Martin O’Neil, aged 59 and residing on Connolly Street in Arklow, County Wicklow, appeared before Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court earlier this week for sentencing.
He was found guilty in October 2025 on nine counts of sexual assault, with eight counts pertaining to Victim A.
These incidents occurred during four years in the 1990s when she was a schoolgirl, and the abuse ceased once she started secondary education.
Both victims agreed to waive their anonymity and requested that O’Neil be publicly identified.
Detective Garda Stephanie Hallahan, who works with An Garda Síochána’s Divisional Protective Services Unit in Wicklow town, testified that in the early 1990s, O’Neil falsely invited Victim A into his home to retrieve a ball that he claimed had fallen behind a bed in his residence.
While she was bent over looking for it, O’Neil climbed on top of her and engaged in sexual grinding.
On another occasion, Victim A recalled O’Neil rubbing his genitals over her clothing near her vagina.
Prosecutor James Kelly BL highlighted that these offenses were persistent, occurring regularly over a five-year span.
Although the abuse ended when she moved to secondary school, its effects persisted through her teenage years.
The victim's trauma contributed to her becoming highly sexualized as a youth, including an incident where she exposed herself to a young man, which led to her being scolded by her parents.
During her teenage years, Victim A drank heavily and shared her abuse experiences with friends, some of whom testified at trial.
In her victim impact statement, she expressed that childhood abuse profoundly influenced her adult life, leaving her feeling angry, hurt, and broken, with ongoing struggles involving self-esteem and trust.
She described the long-lasting mental health issues, including feelings of fear, shame, and emotional distress, and said the trauma robbed her of her sense of safety and normalcy.
Addressing O’Neil directly, Victim A stated that her experiences impacted her family relationships and future prospects and that it has taken years of therapy and bravery to speak out publicly.
She emphasized that giving evidence at trial was emotionally taxing but necessary and expressed pride in sharing her story.
Prosecutor Kelly described Victim B, who was 15 when she was at a Wicklow house and O’Neil asked her to fetch something.
When she arrived at his home and couldn’t find the item, O’Neil pushed her into a sitting room, held her by the throat, and began kissing her.
He attempted to spread her legs, but she kicked him, causing him to slump.
Victim B then fled, and although she told her parents, no action was taken.
Her victim impact statement, read aloud by Mr Kelly, included her words: “I have nothing to say to you, Martin,” adding that the only suffering now is experienced by the accused and his family, who attended court to support him.
O’Neil’s solicitor, Edmund Sweetman BL, stated there was no suggestion his client’s child was present or involved, a point confirmed by Detective Hallahan.
It was also reported that O’Neil suffered a stroke in 2014 and ongoing health issues, making custody more difficult for him.
The DPP’s representative informed the court that O’Neil’s offenses are considered serious, given the deceit, victim targeting, use of force, and sexual nature of the abuse.
During mitigation, Mr Sweetman noted O’Neil does not accept the jury’s verdict but agreed not to appeal and would accept the court’s sentence.
He concluded by saying, “That’s it, it ends now, the victims won’t be troubled anymore,” A report detailing the care O’Neil requires, including assistance with mobility, showering, dressing, and physiotherapy, was submitted.
Judge Patrick Quinn sentenced O’Neil to two years and nine months in prison, with nine months suspended for 12 months.
After the ruling, O’Neil’s wife was seen crying, visibly affected by the sentence.
