BRANDEN MCERLAIN FROM BALLYBANE SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE IN GALWAY

In a case that has spanned over three decades, Brendan McErlain, a 60-year-old man from Ballybane, was sentenced to twelve months in prison for the sexual abuse of a young girl that occurred in Galway in April 1974. The conviction comes after a lengthy legal process that culminated in a trial at Galway Circuit Criminal Court last May, where McErlain denied the charges of indecent assault against the six-year-old victim.

McErlain, who resided at 50 Clareview Park, faced allegations that he had sexually assaulted the girl during a visit to her family home. Despite his denial, the evidence presented in court was compelling enough to secure a guilty verdict. The case was reopened after the victim, now 39 years old, testified that McErlain had shown her pornographic photographs of children engaging in sexual acts with men when she was just six years old. She recounted that McErlain then proceeded to sexually abuse her at her grandmother’s residence.

The case took an unexpected turn in 1998 when McErlain’s past actions surfaced during an unrelated incident. He was driving a female passenger, who was later identified as the younger sister of the original victim, to her family home. During this journey, McErlain made a remark about having previously dated a woman from the Ballybane area, whom he named. The passenger immediately recognized the woman as her aunt and recalled that her sister had previously confided in the family about being sexually abused by McErlain when her aunt was dating him in 1974.

McErlain, originally from County Antrim, was formerly employed as a draughtsman by Galway County Council before becoming a hackney driver. During police interviews, he denied three charges of indecently assaulting the young girl. The jury, after hearing all the evidence, found him guilty of the charges. The court adjourned the sentencing until this week, allowing for the formal proceedings to be completed and for the appropriate punishment to be determined.

The case has drawn significant attention due to the long delay in bringing the offender to justice and the serious nature of the allegations. The court’s decision underscores the importance of addressing historical abuse cases and ensuring that justice is served, regardless of the passage of time.