DUBLIN'S STEPHEN ‘ROSSI’ WALSH BEATEN IN PRISON FOR CHILD SEX CRIMES

In a disturbing development from Dublin, Stephen ‘Rossi’ Walsh, a notorious figure in the city’s criminal underworld, was subjected to a brutal assault while incarcerated in Cloverhill Prison. The images circulating publicly depict Walsh, aged 63, with visible injuries including bruises, cuts, and bloodstains, after being violently attacked by an inmate. This assault appears to be a direct consequence of Walsh’s heinous crimes, which have now led to his further imprisonment and social ostracization.

Walsh’s criminal history is deeply rooted in Dublin’s darker past. Once a feared and influential member of Martin ‘The General’ Cahill’s gang, Walsh was considered one of the most formidable figures in the city’s underworld during the 1970s and 1980s. His reputation was built on a series of violent crimes, including armed robberies, arson, and fraud, notably the infamous theft of the Beit art collection in 1986. During that period, Walsh was known for his ruthlessness and involvement in high-profile criminal activities, which made him a household name among Dublin’s criminal circles.

However, Walsh’s criminal career took a dark turn with his involvement in child sexual abuse. In recent years, he has been convicted of multiple heinous crimes, including the sexual assault of a seven-year-old girl over two decades ago. The court proceedings revealed that Walsh had molested the young girl on two separate occasions when she visited his home. The victim, now 29, recounted how Walsh made her lie face down on a bed with a pillow under her stomach, then lay on top of her and moved as if he was engaging in sexual activity, all while she heard moaning noises. During the trial, Walsh cross-examined his young victim, questioning her about the delay in reporting the abuse, to which she responded that she was ashamed and hurt by his actions.

On Thursday, Walsh was sentenced to an additional three years in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for the sexual assault of the young girl. This sentence followed his earlier conviction for raping Ruth Dunne, who was just nine years old at the time, for which he received a ten-year prison term. Despite his repeated denials of these crimes, Walsh’s reputation has been irrevocably tarnished. The court’s judge, McCartan, emphasized the severity of Walsh’s offenses, noting that he had taken advantage of a vulnerable child and caused her significant emotional distress during the trial.

In a broader context, Walsh’s criminal activities spanned decades. He once portrayed himself as a Robin Hood figure in Dublin’s south-inner city, boasting about his involvement in various illegal enterprises, including bank robberies, arson, and fraud. In interviews, Walsh mocked his former associate, Martin ‘The General’ Cahill, claiming he was a “baby” compared to himself, and boasted about his own extensive criminal exploits. His notoriety peaked in the 1980s, with involvement in some of Dublin’s most infamous crimes, including the 1986 art theft and subsequent attempts to sell stolen artworks through an underground Dutch dealer.

His criminal pursuits extended into the 1990s, where he masterminded large-scale fraud schemes involving utility companies, orchestrating scenarios where associates would fall into deliberately created holes in the streets. Despite his criminal success, Walsh’s reputation was forever marred when, in 2005, the Sunday World exposed his pattern of sexual offenses against children. His conviction for the rape of Ruth Dunne in the 1990s marked a turning point, leading to a ten-year sentence. During sentencing, Judge Carney described Walsh’s “guess-the-fruit-and-veg” game, a disturbing sexual game involving children, as one of the most revolting offenses he had encountered in his 18 years on the bench. The judge also noted that Walsh had planned the game meticulously, purchasing the fruits and vegetables beforehand, which underscored the premeditation involved.

Ruth Dunne, the victim, publicly waived her anonymity to speak about her ordeal outside Dublin’s Central Criminal Court, expressing her satisfaction that justice had been served. She stated, “I am pleased with the results and justice that has been done here today. I am glad this man has been exposed to the public for what he really is.”

Walsh’s criminal career also included a period as an armed robber and protection racketeer, and he was once a player for Shelbourne football club. His violent past culminated in a 1992 conviction for arson after he was caught in the aftermath of a pub fire in Ballybough, Dublin. Despite claiming to have no recollection of the incident, evidence such as petrol traces and incendiary devices found at the scene linked him directly to the crime. His history of violence and criminality continues to cast a long shadow over Dublin’s criminal landscape, with recent events highlighting the ongoing consequences of his past actions.