LIAM O’DWYER FROM CO. LIMERICK SENTENCED TO 11 YEARS FOR CHILD RAPE AND ABUSE IN ADARE

In a harrowing case that has shocked the community of Co. Limerick, Liam O’Dwyer, a 45-year-old man from Capparoe, Adare, was sentenced to a lengthy prison term of 11 years after being found guilty of multiple serious sexual offenses involving his partner’s young daughter.

The crimes, which spanned from October 1996 to December 2001, took place within the confines of the victim’s bedroom. The young girl, whose age ranged from 12 to 17 during the period of abuse, endured a series of heinous acts including eight counts of sexual assault, four counts of rape, and one count of oral rape. O’Dwyer had consistently denied all charges, but after a retrial held last year, the court found him guilty of all the allegations.

During the trial, the prosecution’s counsel highlighted the disturbing nature of the case, emphasizing the victim’s wish to remain anonymous. However, the court was informed that the victim herself wanted O’Dwyer’s name to be publicly disclosed. Sergeant Brendan Casey provided testimony revealing that some members of the victim’s family observed O’Dwyer’s obsessive behavior towards her. They described how he was constantly curious about her whereabouts and seemed fixated on her.

One family member recounted feeling “most uncomfortable” with the way O’Dwyer looked at the girl, but chose not to raise concerns at the time, fearing it might cause further issues. Others revealed that O’Dwyer would call their house up to four times daily when the girl visited, often leaving her distressed. The girl, at that time, was described as “very withdrawn,” markedly different from a typical teenager. Witnesses noted her emotional state was fragile, and she appeared to be suffering from the trauma inflicted upon her.

Years later, the victim’s life took a downward turn, marked by involvement with the wrong crowd and substance abuse. It was not until 2014 that she finally came forward, providing a statement to Gardaí detailing her childhood abuse. In court, she read her victim impact statement aloud, asking the judge to consider her suffering when passing sentence. She described her ongoing struggle with the emotional scars of her abuse, which have persisted into her adult life.

She expressed her fears of physical and psychological harm, revealing that she had suppressed much of her trauma. Her account detailed how her drug addiction had led her into a dark place she desperately wanted to escape. She likened her daily struggles to “going into a boxing match every day knowing I was going to lose but putting myself through it regardless.” The victim also shared her experiences of flashbacks, nightmares, and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, illustrating the profound and lasting impact of the abuse.

In delivering his judgment, Mr. Justice Paul McDermott described how O’Dwyer had “groomed the victim into submission,” exploiting his position of trust. The judge noted that O’Dwyer continued to deny the charges and showed no remorse for his actions. As a result, he was sentenced to 11 years in prison. Additionally, the court ordered that O’Dwyer undergo a three-year period of post-release supervision, aimed at safeguarding the public and preventing any future sexual offenses.