CELLBRIDGE SEX OFFENDER STEWART SINGLETON SENTENCED IN DUBLIN FOR MULTIPLE ABUSES

In March 2012, Stewart Singleton, a man with a troubling history of sexual offenses, was sentenced to four years in prison by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for a series of heinous crimes involving a young boy and a teenage girl. The details of his offenses reveal a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior that spanned over two decades, beginning when Singleton was just 16 years old.

Singleton’s first known victim was a six-year-old boy, whom he lured into his family home in Cellbridge, Co Kildare. The young child was called over by Singleton under the pretense of showing him his penis, an act that marked the beginning of a series of abusive incidents. Over the course of several months, Singleton subjected the boy to three additional assaults. The final incident involved Singleton challenging the then 13-year-old victim to a disturbing contest to see who could masturbate the fastest while reading a collection of pornographic magazines, a grotesque act that underscored the severity of his misconduct.

In addition to the abuse of the young boy, Singleton also committed a sexual assault on a teenage girl, who was 17 at the time. The incident occurred at the golf club where she worked, and Singleton, who was employed there as well, took her into a locked toilet. Inside, he attempted to remove her bra after opening her shirt, an act of sexual aggression that added to his criminal record.

Singleton, now 43 and residing at The Grove, Cellbridge, is a separated father of three children. Due to his criminal behavior, he is no longer permitted access to his children. He pleaded guilty to five counts of indecent assault and sexual assault, with the offenses spanning from January 1985 to August 2005. His criminal history includes a previous conviction for the sexual assault of a minor, which resulted in a 10-month jail sentence in March 2007.

During the court proceedings, Tara Burns BL, representing the prosecution, stated that the victims wished to have Singleton’s name made public but emphasized the importance of protecting their identities. The case came to light when the young boy disclosed the abuse to his family, which led to a police investigation in 2007. The boy’s father confronted Singleton, who initially denied the allegations but eventually broke down and apologized. The teenage girl did not report her assault until the following year. Singleton was interviewed twice in 2009, during which he fully admitted to the offenses and cooperated with the Gardaí.

Defense counsel Ronan Kennedy BL expressed remorse on behalf of Singleton, citing a letter from his client in which he stated, “What I did haunts me every day.” Kennedy also highlighted that Singleton had participated in the Lighthouse Programme for sex offenders, which provided a report indicating he now possesses insight into his criminal behavior and is considered at low risk of re-offending. The defense further revealed that Singleton was planning to marry that year, and his partner, who was fully aware of his past, stood by him and believed he had rehabilitated. The partner also wrote a heartfelt letter to the court, describing Singleton as a man with many good qualities and expressing her love and support.

Judge Martin Nolan acknowledged that Singleton may not have been fully mature at 16 when the abuse began but pointed out that he was in his 20s and 30s during subsequent offenses, making these crimes particularly egregious. While the judge accepted that Singleton was at a low risk of re-offending and appreciated his remorse, he emphasized the seriousness of the crimes. Consequently, Judge Nolan sentenced Singleton to four years in prison but suspended the last two years on the condition that he remains under supervision of the Probation Service for two years, underscoring the gravity of the offenses and the need for accountability.