Ex-scout leader jailed for indecent assault of five boys

A 78-year-old former scout leader has been sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison – with the final six months suspended – after he was found guilty of indecently assaulting five young boys when they were members of his scout troop in Co Cork more than 30 years ago.

Noel Sheehan, of Chimneyfields, Glenville, Co Cork, had denied the 17 charges.

He refused to accept the jury’s verdicts and express any remorse at his sentencing hearing today.

Sheehan, a retired hospital porter, was unanimously found guilty on 16 of 17 charges by a jury of eight men and four women last April.

The trial heard evidence that Sheehan indecently assaulted the young boys by touching and fondling their private parts both inside and outside their clothing while away on camping weekends on dates between 1987 and 1990.

At Cork Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Helen Boyle commended the victims for their bravery in coming forward and trying to overcome the issues they experienced through no fault of their own.

“These have had a significant effect on the victims, now adults, all of whom have eloquently set out the devastating effect on their lives. It is clear that these assaults impacted on every area of their lives.

“It is striking that three out of five had issues with substance abuse while they were trying to deal with these issues from their childhood, none of which were their fault.”

She said all the boys were aged between ten and 12 years of age at the time of the offences, which took place at scouting events, that she said “should have been events of fun and adventure but instead they were preyed upon by you”.

Judge Boyle said Sheehan at the time was an adult, a scout leader, and their carer.

Their parents were entitled to believe their children would be safe in his care.

“The only person to blame for these offences is you,” she said.

She put the offences at the mid-range on the scale of offending, given the victims were children, that there were multiple offences, the abuse of trust, the big age gap and the significant impact on all of the children.

She sentenced Sheehan to four-and-a-half years in prison, with the final six months suspended if he keeps the peace for 12 months on his release.

‘It is about time he pays for his actions’

Earlier, four of the five victims outlined the devastating impact the abuse has had on their lives in their victim impact statements to the court.

One victim said the abuse had “haunted him for 37 years”. He said he was indecently assaulted six times between the ages of ten and 12. He said he was frightened and ashamed and lost interest in sports and school, turning to drink and drugs and still finds life difficult.

Another said the abuse led him to a cycle of self-harming. By 18 he was a daily drug user and was asked to leave his family home.

He overdosed and had numerous hospital admittances, including a nervous breakdown.

While now clean and sober, and back with his family, he still has flashbacks.

“He robbed me of the best years of my life. It is about time he pays for his actions,” he said.

Another victim said he had spent 30 years in and out of prison for crimes he did to escape Sheehan.

“He did some disgusting things to me which I am ashamed to say. I turned to alcohol at 13. I became an alcoholic. It helped me deal with all these demons in my heart.”

He said he lost his “five beautiful kids through my behaviour”.

“Today I am here in front of this monster and I hope he gets what he deserves for what he done to me and all the other kids. He absolutely destroyed us and our families. I felt I couldn’t be a father, or a partner, all the things I dreamed of.”

A fourth victim said the scouting motto is ‘Be Prepared’, but nothing could have prepared him for what happened to him.

He left home at 17. He had a lot of anger and was constantly fighting with his family and authority figures.

He has not spoken to his parents since. He said his wife had wanted to have a child, but he did not because he was afraid he would not be able to protect the child from people like Sheehan.

“He tried to intimidate me in the corridor during the trial. Like a predator circulating his prey, but he didn’t.”

He said even writing the statement was hard but he knew it was something he had to do for his younger self.

“I am proud of myself and the other fellows coming forward and hope it helps others.”