EX-GAA COACH CHRISTOPHER MELIA OF DROGHEDA SENTENCED TO JAIL FOR INDECENT ASSAULT ON TWO GIRLS

In March 2004, Christopher Melia, a 59-year-old former GAA coach from Carnog Brugha, Drogheda, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for indecently assaulting two girls over two decades ago.

Melia pleaded guilty in Dundalk Circuit Court to 10 sample counts of indecent assault committed between 1980 and 1987. Judge Raymond Groarke described the assaults as "depraved" and confirmed they occurred at Melia’s residence during that period.

The court heard that the first complaint came in 2002 after one of the victims, now a mother, recognized Melia while he was coaching an underage GAA team at a sports match. This revelation prompted the investigation.

Detective Garda Valeria Gahon testified that eight of the 10 counts involved one girl, with the remaining two involving the second girl. The first girl was approximately four years old when the abuse began, continuing over an eight-year span, while the second girl was around nine when it started, lasting roughly two years.

During police interviews, Melia admitted to the offences, stating in his confession that he was aware of what he was doing and that "it seemed at the time it wasn’t so bad."

Melia, who worked for Irish Rail in Drogheda for more than 30 years, resigned from his position once the allegations surfaced. The GAA also requested that he sever ties with the organization, and he is no longer affiliated.

The Garda mentioned that the woman affected by the eight offences now suffers from a fear of strangers and men generally. Meanwhile, the second woman is undergoing counselling, experiences difficulty sleeping, and is very cautious about how she dresses her own children, fearing they might "look attractive."

Defence solicitor Roddy O’Hanlon highlighted that Melia was a recovered chronic alcoholic and manic depressive.