OFFENDERS JOHN/CHRIS/THOMAS SHEEHAN SENTENCED IN KILKENNY AFTER DECADES OF ABUSE

In July 2012, two sisters who endured abuse at the hands of three brothers from a different family spoke publicly about their long-standing suffering and the relief they felt after finally obtaining justice.

The women, who began experiencing abuse at the age of six during the 1970s, described the emotional toll of the ordeal spanning over four decades. They emphasized that this victory marks only the initial step in their journey, as they are now focused on pursuing a civil case against a fourth individual whom the DPP decided not to prosecute.

On a recent Wednesday, 58-year-old John Sheehan, a quarry worker from Raheendoran, was sentenced to eight years in prison, with three years suspended, after pleading guilty to charges of indecent assault against the two women between 1970 and 1980. Similarly, 55-year-old Christopher Sheehan of Kyleshall and 51-year-old Thomas Sheehan of Castlehill, Coon West, Castlecomer, Kilkenny, received identical sentences of eight years in jail, with four years suspended, after they also admitted to similar charges of abuse within the same timeframe.

The sisters recounted the difficulty of encountering the accused men in their daily lives, describing them as highly regarded in the community. One sister remarked, “They were highly thought of in the area. To meet them you would never ever expect them to be able to carry out such violent acts.” She recalled that the men would still wave at them just five or six months prior to the court proceedings.

She added, “I met Christy a few times coming up to the case and he would just turn his head.” The sisters expressed disbelief that the men could be involved in such heinous acts, noting how the community couldn't believe it when the allegations first arose. “People can now see them for what they are,” they said.

Growing up, the brothers were friendly with the girls’ older siblings, earning the trust of the family. Descriptions of their character included their involvement in community activities, such as the local football club, the Order of Malta, and the Wheelchair Association. Unlike the typical perception of offenders, they did not smoke, drink, or gamble.

The abuse suffered by one sister ended when she was nine, but her sister’s abuse persisted into her teenage years. One sister revealed, “I don’t even know a quarter of what happened to my sister,” describing how Christy would knock on her bedroom window at night to gain entry for abuse. She recounted hiding under her parents’ bed to escape, breaking the bathroom cistern attempting to get out the window, and being subjected to abuse by all three brothers at different times.

She shared her feelings about their ordeal: “My sister and I have been to hell and back, the hurt and suffering that we have gone through. We were at rock bottom and this was the only thing that we grasped onto. We hoped one day we would be able to do this.” She expressed hope for the future, acknowledging that the road ahead remains challenging, but feeling positive about the court’s sentencing. “We still have a long road ahead of us but this is a great result and we are delighted. In court, things can go anyway,” she concluded.