DOMINIC DOWNEY OF MOYCULLEN AND GALWAY JAILED FOR CHILD SEX ABUSE IN THE 1970S

In a case that has shocked the local community, Dominic Downey, a 64-year-old man from Moycullen, was sentenced to a year in prison for the sexual abuse of a young girl during the early 1970s. The incident took place over a span of three years, during which Downey, a former butcher residing in Ugool, Moycullen, committed heinous acts that have now come to light through a court conviction.

Downey was brought before Galway Circuit Criminal Court in mid-November, where a jury found him guilty of three out of six charges related to indecent assault. The charges stemmed from allegations that he assaulted the girl, who was between 12 and 15 years old at the time, at his butcher’s shop located on Spiddal Road in Moycullen. The court heard that the abuse occurred on various dates between July 1, 1973, and July 22, 1975.

Throughout the trial, Downey maintained his innocence, denying the remaining three charges. However, the jury, composed of seven men and five women, took only three and a half hours to reach a verdict. They convicted him of three charges, while acquitting him of the other three. The judge, Raymond Groarke, ordered Downey to be remanded in custody until December 8th, when he will be sentenced. The court also directed that a victim impact statement be prepared for the sentencing hearing.

The victim, who was just 12 years old when the abuse began, provided a harrowing account to the court. She described Moycullen at the time as a quiet, rural village with little traffic or activity. She recounted how Downey would often check the road outside his shop before initiating any abuse, seemingly to ensure no one was watching. She detailed how he would hook his leg around her and hold her firmly during the assaults, which left her feeling numb and helpless. Her testimony revealed that the abuse persisted for three to four years, escalating from groping to rape, which she said took place in the shop’s cold room against animal carcasses.

The woman, visibly distressed, explained that she was an innocent child of only 12 when the abuse started and had no understanding of sex. She described Downey’s demeanor as sour and gruff, often on the verge of anger, with a piercing, one-eyed stare that made her feel powerless to react or scream. Her account painted a picture of a man who appeared to manipulate her vulnerability, and her emotional testimony underscored the severity of the trauma she endured.

In 2008, Downey admitted to police that he had kissed and touched the girl but denied any further misconduct. He claimed that she had thrown herself at him, was very forward for her age, and looked older than she was, asserting, “I don’t think I took advantage of her. She came on to me. It’s not my fault.”

The jury’s swift verdict reflected the gravity of the allegations, and Downey’s conviction marks a significant moment in the ongoing efforts to address child abuse cases in the Galway and Moycullen areas. The court’s decision to remand him in custody until sentencing emphasizes the seriousness with which the justice system treats such offenses, and the victim’s statement is expected to play a crucial role in the upcoming sentencing proceedings.