JAMES MCGARR OF NAAS, CO KILDARE, SENTENCED FOR DECADES OF ABUSE AND RAPE

In a harrowing case that has shocked the community of Naas in County Kildare, James McGarr, a 75-year-old former musician and member of the Gallowglass Ceili Band, has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term for a prolonged history of sexual abuse and rape against his own daughter. The sentencing took place at the Central Criminal Court, where Mr. Justice Paul Carney handed down a 14-year prison sentence after McGarr pleaded guilty to multiple charges.

McGarr's criminal conduct spanned over a decade, beginning when his daughter was just three years old. The abuse escalated over the years, with the victim, now 47, revealing that her father began engaging in sexual intercourse with her when she was only four. She recounted that he would tell her that her future husband would be 'very happy' because he had prepared her for him, a disturbing manipulation that added to her trauma.

The accused, who resided at Our Lady’s Place in Naas, admitted to one charge of indecent assault and 31 sample charges of raping his daughter, with the abuse occurring between 1961 and 1976. The victim, Josephine O’Shea, provided a detailed account to the Gardaí, stating that her father raped her 'hundreds of times,' often four or five times weekly. She also requested that her father's name be included in media reports concerning the case, emphasizing the severity and personal toll of her ordeal.

According to her testimony, within a year of the initial abuse, her father was engaging in regular sexual intercourse with her. He also threatened to do the same to her baby sister if she refused to comply. When she was approximately seven years old, she was hospitalized at Temple Street Hospital for several weeks after her father attempted to have anal sex with her, an incident that marked a particularly traumatic chapter in her life. The last recorded instance of abuse was in January 1976.

During the court proceedings, the victim expressed the profound impact of her father's actions, stating, “I have lived in fear for the best part of my life. As a child, a teenager, and well into my adult life, fear directed my life. I was always afraid. I’m still afraid.” Her words underscored the long-lasting scars inflicted by her father’s actions.

McGarr’s defense attorney, Mr. Mill-Arden, conveyed that McGarr had asked him to tell the court that he was genuinely remorseful and sorry for his actions. It was also noted that McGarr suffers from a heart condition and is the sole carer for his invalid wife. The court sentenced him to 14 years, with the final three years suspended, and imposed a concurrent four-year sentence for the indecent assault. Additionally, McGarr was certified as a sex offender, marking a significant step in addressing his crimes.

Following the sentencing, Josephine O’Shea expressed her gratitude to certain family members for their support and also thanked the Gardaí for their sensitive handling of her case. However, she also voiced her disappointment, stating, “For those who could have supported us but didn’t, all I can say is, you too have hurt me greatly,” highlighting the emotional toll that the case has taken on her and her family.