A 78-year-old former scout master who was convicted earlier this year of indecently assaulting five young boys when they were members of his scout troop in Cork more than three decades ago has been jailed for four years.
Mr Boland described the offences as being “serious” but appealed for leniency in the case. "These are serious offences affecting young persons and a serious breach of trust but are at the lower end of the scale.” The offences occurred between 1987 and 1990 when the complainants were aged between 10 to 13 years. The offences took place at a scout hall at Old Schoolhouse, Chimneyfields, Glenville, Mount Melleray, Co Waterford and one at Drishane Castle in Millstreet, Co Cork.
“He put his hand on my penis; he had his eyes closed and he was snow white in the face and sweating on his forehead. He told me he was just playing a game... I went back upstairs but I couldn’t sleep, I stayed awake – I was a young fellow, but I was fairly angry.” Today at the sentencing hearing at Cork Circuit Court the victims told Judge Helen Boyle of how the abuse had impacted on them. One said that he decided not to have children because he was afraid they would be abused. He said “If this had not happened to me I would be a father now.”