THOMAS CUNNINGHAM MULLINGAR IRISH SOLDIER JAILED FOR RAPE OF 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL

In a harrowing case that has shocked the community of Mullingar, Thomas Cunningham, a 42-year-old former soldier, was sentenced to ten years in prison for the heinous crimes committed against a young girl. The offences, which spanned over four years, involved Cunningham repeatedly raping a 12-year-old girl on a bi-weekly basis, with the abuse occurring between May 1, 2002, and June 30, 2006.

Thomas Cunningham, who resided at Cosgrove’s Flats on Dominick Street in Mullingar, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to nine sample charges of rape. The court heard that Cunningham also engaged in manipulative and abusive communication with the victim, sending her text messages in which he referred to her as “his lover” and implored her “to make love to me.”

The disturbing revelations came to light when the victim’s brother unexpectedly walked in on Cunningham engaging in sexual activity with the girl. Although he chose not to disclose the incident immediately, he later confided in their mother two years after discovering the abuse a second time. The victim herself expressed a desire for her attacker’s name to be made public, but she requested that her identity remain protected to shield her from further trauma.

In a victim impact statement, she recounted her childhood as initially happy and content. She described her first experience of rape, recalling that she had hoped for a miracle to make it stop and felt “disgusting” afterward. The girl explained that at the time, she did not understand what sex was or what was happening to her. Despite Cunningham’s attempts to buy her gifts and jewelry, she would often discard these tokens of his affection, indicating her discomfort and confusion.

The young woman conveyed that the trauma inflicted upon her continues to affect her daily life. She revealed that she cannot be left alone, avoids social interactions, and suffers from panic attacks. Her confidence has been severely damaged, and she feels that Cunningham has “destroyed everything in my life,” leaving her feeling as though her life has been “messed up.”

Mr. Justice Paul Carney, presiding over the case, described Cunningham’s actions as “outrageous” and emphasized that they represented a gross breach of trust. The judge also took into account the profound impact the crimes had on the victim’s well-being. Cunningham was declared a sex offender and was ordered to undergo eight years of post-release supervision upon his release from prison.

In his sentencing remarks, Mr. Justice Carney highlighted the seriousness of the offences, noting their egregious nature. He acknowledged Cunningham’s lack of prior convictions, his cooperation with authorities, his guilty plea, and his expression of “genuine remorse.” The court also considered a report from the Granada Institute, which concluded that Cunningham posed a low risk of reoffending.

Detective Garda Michael Burke provided additional details during the hearing, stating that Cunningham would abuse the girl when her mother was away. He would send notes to the girl’s school, falsely claiming to be her mother and requesting early release for medical appointments, during which Cunningham would commit the assaults. Cunningham voluntarily admitted to Gardaí that all allegations were true and had no previous criminal record.

Defense counsel Mr. Giollaiosa O’Lideadha SC acknowledged Cunningham’s service of 21 years in the Irish Army before his retirement. He also revealed that Cunningham had arranged to pay 70 percent of his pension monthly to the victim over five years as a gesture of remorse. The lawyer urged the court to consider Cunningham’s deep remorse, his guilty plea, his good work history, and the low risk of reoffending as indicated by the Granada report.

Overall, the case has left a lasting scar on the Mullingar community, highlighting the devastating impact of abuse and the importance of justice for victims of such heinous crimes.