THOMAS “TERRY” CUMMINS SHOCKS WATERFORD WITH SEXUAL ABUSE CONVICTION IN HISTORIC CASE

In a deeply disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through Waterford, Thomas “Terry” Cummins, a retired bookmaker with longstanding ties to the city, has been found guilty of multiple counts of indecent assault against a teenage boy. The offences, which occurred nearly four decades ago, have finally come to light, leading to a conviction that underscores the enduring impact of childhood abuse.

According to court proceedings, the victim, who was just 15 years old at the time, was subjected to repeated assaults over a period of six months at a betting office located on John Street in Waterford City. The young boy, who worked alongside Cummins in the early 1980s, recounted how the older man, who resided on Hawthorne Grove, Hillview, and was formerly from Cork Road, engaged in a pattern of grooming and coercion that culminated in multiple acts of sexual abuse.

Despite vehemently denying the allegations, Thomas “Terry” Cummins, now 82 years old, was unanimously convicted by a jury composed of seven men and five women on Thursday. The jury found him guilty of all 12 counts of indecent assault, marking a significant moment in the pursuit of justice for the victim. This conviction is not the first for Cummins, as evidence was presented that he had previously pleaded guilty and been convicted in 2002 for sexual offences committed against a 13-year-old boy in the same betting office during the 1980s.

State prosecutor Conor O’Doherty described Cummins’ actions as “grooming and coercion,” emphasizing the shocking nature of the case. He highlighted that the case sheds light on a dark chapter, made more poignant by the victim’s decision to come forward nearly 40 years after the abuse took place. The victim, who gave evidence via video link, detailed how he was introduced to gambling at the age of 15, which led to him incurring debts owed to Cummins, who was 25 years his senior.

The victim recounted a chilling incident when Cummins suggested that there were “other ways of paying that money,” and then proceeded to request that the young boy masturbate in front of him. The victim described feeling scared but compliant, and he revealed that Cummins assaulted him “twice a week, sometimes three times a week,” over the subsequent months. These assaults included oral sex, and at one point, Cummins attempted to involve a second man in the abuse, an offer the victim refused. The victim eventually sought employment elsewhere to escape the situation.

In the court, evidence from the 2002 case was admitted, with Cummins’ defense counsel, Colman Cody SC, suggesting that the current allegations might be linked to a failed attempt at blackmail by the victim. The defense argued that the current case was motivated by a desire for revenge after Cummins paid compensation in the earlier case. The victim from the 2002 incident, who appeared via video link, confirmed that the abuse also involved anal sex and that a second man was involved in some of the assaults during the early 1980s.

Prosecutor O’Doherty countered these claims, stating that the current case was not motivated by blackmail. He pointed out that the victim had disclosed the abuse to a former girlfriend in 1987 and later sought counselling with the HSE in 2017, which led to the decision to pursue legal action. The similarities in the methods used in both cases were striking, and it was revealed that Cummins had manipulated his own brother, who owned the betting office and was unaware of the abuse.

Both victims, now in their 50s, have spoken about how the abuse profoundly affected their lives, with both developing gambling addictions as a result. The man involved in the recent case described his life as “destroyed” by gambling, although he noted that his financial situation has stabilized in recent years, with his wife now managing their finances. The victims have maintained that they have had no contact with each other apart from brief conversations in betting offices over the decades.

Thomas “Terry” Cummins was remanded in custody until June 15, pending sentencing, as the court considers the gravity of the offences and the impact on the victims. The case has brought to light the long-lasting scars of childhood abuse and the importance of justice, even after many years have passed.