DUBLIN PAEDOPHILE MARTIN GERAGHTY'S EARLY RELEASE SPARKS OUTRAGE IN DONNYCARNEY
In a development that has caused widespread anger and distress among victims and their families, Martin Geraghty, a convicted paedophile from Donnycarney in north Dublin, is scheduled to be released from prison on October 19.Geraghty, aged 51, was sentenced in October 2010 to a total of seven years for heinous crimes involving the sexual abuse of two young sisters.
His sentence included a three-year period suspended, and due to good behaviour and remission policies, he will serve only three years in total before regaining his freedom.
Geraghty’s crimes are particularly disturbing because they involved the repeated rape and sexual assault of two girls, one of whom was only five years old when the abuse began.
The trauma inflicted on the sisters has had a lasting impact, with their lives spiraling into chaos and emotional turmoil.
The family had been gradually rebuilding their lives when news of Geraghty’s impending release shattered their sense of safety and stability.
The victims, who are now adults, expressed their disbelief and horror at the prospect of Geraghty moving back into a house just around the corner from where they reside.
One of the sisters, now 20 years old, chose to remain anonymous but shared her feelings of devastation.
She said, “I nearly died when I heard he was getting out and that he was moving back.
The only reason he has been on good behaviour in prison is because he doesn’t have any girls in there to molest.” She recounted that her ordeal began when she was just nine years old, and she initially did not understand what was happening.
Her confusion turned to fear and betrayal when Geraghty made her promise not to tell anyone about the abuse.
Unbeknownst to her at the time, her younger sister, who was only five, was also being subjected to the same horrors.
Geraghty had told the younger girl that their secret was safe, further deepening the trauma.
The younger sister described her experience as a relentless nightmare, saying, “Nothing stopped the fear of what he was going to do next.
He destroyed our childhood.” The abuse had a profound effect on the older sister, leading her to lash out and develop behavioural problems.
Her family struggled to understand her distress, which manifested in running away, substance use, and emotional withdrawal.
The younger sister’s behaviour was also deeply affected, as she was unable to participate in normal childhood activities and suffered from bullying for years.
The older sister first disclosed the abuse to her guidance counsellor at age 14.
Initially, their mother was skeptical, and Geraghty denied the allegations, which delayed justice.
It was only in 2009, when the younger sister broke down crying and revealed that she had been abused since the age of five, that the family was finally believed.
Geraghty was subsequently charged by the Gardaí.
Following his arrest, Geraghty initially maintained his innocence but later admitted guilt before his trial.
The victims endured a long and painful journey through the justice system, including victim impact assessments, counselling, and court proceedings.
The older sister described her mental health struggles, including depression, and the numerous counsellors she saw during her teenage years.
In a courageous act, she chose to speak publicly about her experience, hoping to prevent similar cases in the future.
She expressed her frustration and anger at the justice system, criticizing the short sentence handed down to Geraghty.
The family and their supporters believe that the leniency of the sentence and the early release send a harmful message, especially to other potential offenders.
One of their cousins voiced her outrage, saying, “These girls went through victim impact reports, dealing with counsellors, social workers, Gardaí.
I have never looked at a child’s eyes and seen so much darkness.
They barely smiled.
Someone would get the message that if they did this they would be out in three years and it wouldn’t be so bad.
He’s able to walk out those gates.
Any decent human being wouldn’t allow this to happen.” The family’s ordeal highlights the ongoing trauma faced by victims of sexual abuse and raises questions about the justice system’s handling of such cases, especially regarding sentencing and early release policies.
Their plea is for greater protection and awareness to prevent future tragedies and to ensure that offenders like Geraghty are held accountable for the full extent of their crimes.
