STEPHEN BROWNER IN DUBLIN SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE WITH SUSPENDED PRISON TERM
In January 2019, a man named Stephen Browner, now 36, received a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to repeatedly sexually assaulting a young girl he babysat in Dublin two decades prior.The court heard that Browner, as a teenager between December 1997 and December 1999, forced the girl to masturbate him on several occasions.
The victim, who was between eight and 10 years old at the time, was a neighbor and family friend of Browner.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court learned that Browner has expressed feelings of intense guilt and shame regarding his actions.
Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin commented on the lasting impact, stating, “the attacks left the victim with a sadness that remains with her” and “desecrated” her perception of love.
Browner, of Stoneybatter in Dublin, pleaded guilty to eight counts of sexual assault at the girl’s family home in a south Dublin suburb.
Prosecutor Elva Duffy BL informed the court that the complainant wished to lift reporting restrictions so that Browner could be publicly named.
The judge noted that Browner’s motivation was “a concern to protect others from you.” The court sentenced Browner to 20 months in prison, suspended, on the condition that he completes all treatment programs recommended by the Probation Service, including victim awareness initiatives.
Judge Ní Chúlacháin acknowledged that Browner’s conduct was out of character and stated that he was a minor at the time, aged between 14 and 16.
A report presented to the court indicated he poses a low risk of re-offending.
It was also emphasized that Browner is on the sex offenders register and has a duty to disclose this to any future partners.
While the court received reports suggesting Browner is remorseful, the judge noted he has not taken concrete steps such as attending counselling to address his behaviour.
The abuse began during the 1997 Christmas period when Browner was babysitting the girl.
The girl’s family and Browner’s family were neighbors.
The initial incident occurred when the girl, after being put to bed, sneaked downstairs intending to startle Browner.
She found him watching TV and masturbating.
Browner appeared shocked and stopped when she entered, but she later described feeling naive and confused about his actions.
Subsequent incidents involved Browner masturbating while she walked in on him, with him asking if she wanted to try, and later, him moving her hand to his genitals during a game.
On a later occasion, he made her masturbate him while he was in the shower.
The assaults continued until 1999, when the girl confided in her family after an incident with another boy, which prompted her to tell her parents.
Her mother contacted Browner’s mother, who reacted with visible distress.
Following the disclosures, Browner wrote an apology letter to the victim’s family, which was later torn up.
It was only in 2016 that the victim, overwhelmed by her feelings, formally reported the abuse to the Gardaí, leading to the legal proceedings.
