PHILIP GAYNOR FROM LEIXLIP CO KILDARE SENTENCED TO EIGHT YEARS FOR ATTEMPTED RAPE OF YOUNG GIRL IN THE 1980S

In a case that has spanned decades and brought to light the enduring scars of childhood abuse, Philip Gaynor, a 56-year-old man from Green Lane in Leixlip, County Kildare, was sentenced to eight years in prison by the Central Criminal Court. The conviction stems from his admitted involvement in the attempted rape and indecent assault of a young girl during the early 1980s, a period when the victim was between the ages of 8 and 13.

Gaynor pleaded guilty to charges that included indecently assaulting the girl and attempting to rape her over a span of five years, beginning in 1980 when she was just eight years old. The court heard that the abuse was not a single incident but a series of violations that persisted over a significant period, causing profound and lasting trauma.

The victim, whose identity remains protected, delivered a heartfelt and emotional statement during the proceedings. She revealed that she had kept her ordeal a secret for nearly 20 years, a burden that she carried alone for most of her life. Her statement detailed the emotional toll of the abuse, describing how she had spent the last 26 years feeling 'dirty and soiled,' despite her efforts to move forward and forget the horrific acts that robbed her of her innocence.

She expressed regret for coming forward, explaining that her decision to report the abuse allowed her abuser to exploit every legal avenue available to delay and complicate her pursuit of justice. The victim also shared that after undergoing eight years of therapy, she has come to accept that she may never fully recover from the trauma inflicted upon her as a child.

Following his guilty plea, Philip Gaynor was taken from the court to begin serving his sentence. The case has highlighted the long-lasting impact of childhood sexual abuse and the importance of justice for victims who often suffer in silence for years before their voices are heard.