MICHAEL GOLDEN'S SHOCKING CRIME SPREE IN CO MAYO ENDS IN TRAGEDY

In June 2022, the community was shaken by the tragic death of Michael Golden, a 73-year-old dairy farmer from Crosspatrick, Killala, in County Mayo. Golden, who was widely regarded as an upstanding member of his local community and had received recognition for his contributions to agriculture, was also a serial offender whose dark past was only fully uncovered in recent years.

Golden was suspected of engaging in a prolonged and heinous pattern of abuse spanning over four decades, from the 1960s through the 1990s. His victims ranged in age from as young as five to 14 years old, and the details of his crimes revealed a disturbing history of molestation and sexual assault. The courage of four of these victims, who chose to come forward despite the trauma they endured, played a crucial role in bringing Golden’s criminal activities to light and ultimately led to his arrest and prosecution.

Following the charges, Golden attempted to manipulate the legal process by claiming he suffered from dementia, hoping to have the case dismissed. He also made a series of fabricated allegations in an effort to avoid justice. However, these efforts proved unsuccessful. On May 10, a jury of ten members found Golden guilty of multiple serious charges, including seven counts of indecent assault, four counts of sexual assault, and nine counts of oral rape, all committed against four children over a period from 1980 to 1997.

Despite the overwhelming evidence and his conviction, Golden chose to end his own life before he could face sentencing. On June 6, he was found dead in Portlaoise Prison, having taken his own life. His death prevented the possibility of a lengthy prison sentence, which could have ranged from 15 to 20 years. The community and the victims’ families are left to grapple with the tragic loss and the devastating impact of his crimes, which cast a long shadow over the region of County Mayo.