WILLIAM MCGLONE FROM BALLYFERMOT SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS FOR HORRIFIC ABUSE OF TWIN SISTERS IN DUBLIN

In a deeply disturbing case that has shocked the community of Ballyfermot and the wider Dublin area, William McGlone, aged 34, has been sentenced to a decade behind bars for the heinous sexual abuse and assault of his twin sisters. The crimes, which spanned over six years during their childhood, involved a series of brutal and manipulative acts that robbed the victims of their innocence and inflicted lifelong trauma.

The court heard that McGlone began abusing his sisters when they were just eight years old, with the abuse starting around July 1995 and continuing until October 2001. His victims, Wendy and Stacey, both waived their right to anonymity to speak out about the suffering they endured at the hands of their brother. McGlone, who was living on Cherry Orchard Avenue in Ballyfermot at the time, was only 13 years old when he started his pattern of abuse, which targeted his younger sisters who were four years his junior.

Justice Patrick McCarthy described the abuse as “callous” and emphasized the devastating impact it had on the victims’ lives. The court was told that McGlone’s actions included multiple counts of sexual assault, rape, and oral rape. Specifically, he was convicted of 21 counts related to the abuse of Wendy, including rape and sexual assault, and one count of sexual assault against Stacey. Both women courageously chose to speak openly in court about their experiences, revealing the profound and lasting scars left by their brother’s actions.

During police interviews, McGlone admitted to the sexual assaults, including raping his sister Stacey when she was around eight years old. He also confessed to repeatedly assaulting Wendy, describing some of the more disturbing acts, such as raping her with a shampoo bottle and a vibrator, which he also used on himself. In a remorseful tone, he told gardaí, “I admit it. I wish to say I’m sorry. I’m a horrible person and a brother.”

He pleaded guilty to seven counts of sexually assaulting Wendy and three counts of raping her, as well as one count of sexually assaulting Stacey. However, McGlone denied further charges of rape and sexual assault, leading to a trial held in January of the following year. During the proceedings, he gave evidence, admitting to some of the abuse but also calling his sister a “liar” regarding other allegations. The jury ultimately found him guilty of three counts of sexual assault, seven counts of rape, and one count of attempted rape involving Wendy.

The court was informed that McGlone is a father of one child, with a second child on the way, and that he had a prior conviction in 2012 for the sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl in Dublin city centre. He received a three-year sentence, with the final 20 months suspended. The impact on Wendy was profound; she described growing up in a state of constant fear, lying awake at night terrified she might become pregnant, and feeling betrayed upon learning her twin sister had also been abused. Her suffering continues, with ongoing insomnia and nightmares, and she described the trial as “the most distressing experience of her life.”

Stacey, her sister, also shared her pain, stating in her victim impact statement, “When I was eight years old I was robbed of my innocence by my brother.” Both sisters expressed feelings of shame and embarrassment during their childhood, struggling to comprehend that their brother’s behavior was abnormal. The court was told that McGlone’s assaults on Wendy occurred up to four times a week from the age of eight until she was 15, with rapes beginning when she was ten, occurring approximately once a week.

Justice McCarthy highlighted the severity of the crimes, describing the victims’ childhoods as “devastating.” He emphasized the manipulative and callous nature of McGlone’s offending pattern, which persisted until he was 19 years old. The judge noted that McGlone’s moral culpability increased with age and expressed concern about the risk of re-offending, especially considering his history of substance abuse and a diagnosed personality disorder, though he dismissed the latter as less relevant.

McGlone had also written a letter to the court expressing remorse and accepting the jury’s verdict. Nonetheless, Justice McCarthy ordered that he be subject to seven years of post-release supervision, with the sentence backdated to February of this year when he first entered custody. The judge also voiced concern for the safety of McGlone’s children upon his release, underscoring the seriousness of his crimes and the lasting impact on his victims.