JOHN PHELAN'S SHOCKING CRIMES IN LAOIS AND MOUNTRATH REVEALED

In a series of harrowing court proceedings spanning several years, John Phelan, a man from Kilbricken, Mountrath, County Laois, has been convicted of multiple heinous sexual offenses involving young girls. His criminal history, which includes convictions dating back to 2008, has cast a long shadow over the communities of Laois and Mountrath, where he resided and carried out his illicit activities.

Most recently, in December 2018, Phelan was sentenced to an additional year in prison for the sexual abuse of an 11-year-old girl. The court heard that Phelan, a known serial sex offender and horse trader, had engaged in a pattern of manipulative and predatory behavior towards this young girl, whom he had lured with promises of money to keep their encounters secret. The girl, who has chosen to waive her right to anonymity, recounted her traumatic experience, which involved Phelan offering her small sums of money—initially a pound and later five pounds—to silence her about the abuse.

During the court session at Laois Circuit Court, Judge Keenan Johnson emphasized the gravity of Phelan’s breach of trust. He pointed out that Phelan’s actions demonstrated a calculated attempt to manipulate and exploit the young girl, highlighting the severity of his misconduct. The judge imposed a further 12-month sentence, to run consecutively with Phelan’s existing nine-year prison term. The court detailed that Phelan had been convicted by a jury of two counts of sexually assaulting the girl in 1992 and 1993, when he was 28 years old. The incidents involved Phelan calling at her home under the pretense of helping with farm work, only to assault her as she attempted to climb over a gate. On one occasion, he groped her breasts and then offered her money to keep quiet. On another, he fondled her again and tried to coerce her into performing oral sex, which she resisted. After the assault, Phelan followed her home and again offered her money to remain silent.

The victim, now in her 30s, provided a heartfelt victim impact statement, describing her feelings of confusion and terror during her childhood. She revealed that she kept her abuse secret for many years, which caused her emotional suffering, including mental health struggles and acting out as a teenager. Judge Johnson acknowledged her ordeal, describing her experience as horrific, and noted the emotional toll the trial had taken on her. The court considered aggravating factors such as her not-guilty plea, the abuse of trust, and the profound impact on her life when sentencing Phelan.

In a separate but equally disturbing case from July 2018, a woman from Laois recounted how Phelan’s actions shattered her childhood dreams of becoming a veterinarian. She described how her summer job caring for animals on local farms, which she hoped would prepare her for her future, was marred by Phelan’s sexual assault. The woman, who also waived her anonymity, detailed how Phelan, then aged 54, raped her multiple times between the ages of 14 and 16 at various locations in Laois, including his home and a derelict cottage. Phelan pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual assault and two counts of rape, having initially contested the charges but changing his plea after her testimony.

The court heard that Phelan’s offending began after he began asking the young girl personal questions about her boyfriend, which made her uncomfortable. His advances escalated to kissing, fondling, and digital penetration. The girl, feeling embarrassed and scared, continued working for him, partly to avoid losing her job. Phelan’s actions culminated in two rapes, one at a farm and another in an animal feed room, with Phelan telling her to relax during the second assault, claiming it would “get easier after a while.” The victim expressed her ongoing pain and trauma in her victim impact statement, describing her feelings of guilt, shame, and mistrust that persisted long after the abuse.

She praised Garda Michael Kennelly, who investigated her case, describing him as her “guardian angel and friend for life.” The woman also thanked the Tullamore Rape Crisis Centre, her family, and friends for their support. Garda Kennelly confirmed that Phelan had attended and completed a sex offenders course while in prison and expressed that Phelan had shown remorse. Phelan’s legal team indicated that he had worked throughout his life and was genuinely remorseful, having expressed regret to his probation officer.

Justice Deirdre Murphy remanded Phelan in custody and scheduled sentencing for October, where she will consider a full mitigation plea from the defense. Phelan’s criminal history also includes a 2008 conviction for sexually assaulting a young girl between the ages of nine and 11, for which he received a seven-year sentence. During that case, Phelan admitted to multiple indecent and sexual assaults committed between April 1989 and March 1992 in County Laois. The victim in that case described how the abuse tainted her childhood and left lasting scars, including feelings of uncleanness and difficulty trusting men. She recounted her struggle to speak about her trauma and her desire to prevent similar crimes from happening to others.

Throughout these cases, Phelan’s actions have left a trail of pain and suffering in Laois and Mountrath, with victims bravely coming forward to seek justice. His repeated offenses and manipulative tactics underscore the importance of vigilance and protective measures for vulnerable children and young women in these communities.