Jacinta McSherry O'Connor had pleaded not guilty to two counts of indecently assaulting a male student in 1985
A secondary school teacher who 40 years ago told a 13-year-old pupil she indecently assaulted that she was herself a victim of sexual assault did so as part of a “grooming” process, the Court of Appeal has ruled.
READ MORE: Jail for teacher who indecently assaulted male student she claimed had said he was 'in love' with her At a previous hearing, the man, now in his fifties, stated in a victim impact statement that McSherry O'Connor had been like a "spectre" hanging over him his whole life. He said she took his innocence away and that what happened was “deeply and morally wrong”.
At the Court of Appeal in October, counsel for the appellant, Marc Thompson BL, said that his client had given these details of being the victim of sexual assault in a statement she made, which the prosecution introduced into evidence. He said that these portions of her statement should not have been given to the jury in the case.
“Grooming of a child is, by definition, an ongoing continuing process and may be multifaceted in its nature. The behaviour may seek to try and develop a connection between the adult and the minor over time,” she said.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Fair City spoilers: Fergal urges Jacinta to apologise to Georgie for her homophobic remarksFair City spoilers for episodes airing Sunday 24th, Tuesday 26th, Thursday 28th and Friday 29th of November as Fergal Boyle continues to battle with his sexuality, Carol Foley goes through treatment and Hayley Collins looks set to leave
Read more »
Feargus O’Connor: Irish leader of one of the world’s first major working-class movementsChartism got its name from the People’s Charter, and aimed to give ordinary working-class citizens a voice in a reformed political system
Read more »
Storm Babet Flood Brought Sarsfields Closer Together Says O'ConnorSarsfields GAA club has come closer together following the devastation caused by Storm Babet last year. The club made the difficult decision to open floodgates, sacrificing their pitches to protect the local community. Despite extensive damage, the club has rebuilt and achieved remarkable success, winning the Munster Championship for the first time and reaching the All-Ireland club final.
Read more »
Storm Babet Flood Brought Sarsfields Club Closer Together, Says Jack O’ConnorSarsfields club star Jack O’Connor reflects on the impact of Storm Babet floods on the team's unity and the club's remarkable journey to the All-Ireland club final.
Read more »
Cillian O'Connor Ends Mayo Career at 32Cillian O'Connor will not play for Mayo in 2025, effectively ending his career with the county. At 32, a return in 2026 is unlikely. The grueling commute from Dublin, where he is based, is believed to have played a role in his decision.
Read more »
Blow for Mayo as long-serving Cillian O'Connor steps back from county panelOther defections from Kevin McStay's Mayo squad are expected ahead of the 2025 campaign.
Read more »