CHILD sex abuse is rampant in Ireland, a judge warned yesterday.

Thursday May 19th 2005
Judge John Neilan warned that the kind of attack which happened in England, in which two schoolgirls were murdered, could happen here if people were not more vigilant.

"Are we prepared to see what happened to the two little children Holly and Jessica happen in Ireland? It will if we are not more vigilant, extremely vigilant," he warned, referring to the Soham murders.

Judge Neilan was speaking in Tullamore District Court during a case of a Co Offaly man who exposed himself to teenage girls.

Michael Cleere (52) from Daingean, Co Offaly, admitted exposing himself to four young girls at a GAA club in Daingean in Co Offaly in June 2004.

Cleere had pleaded guilty in a previous court appearance and Judge John Neilan imposed a five-month suspended sentence on him. However, Cleere is to return to court on October 6 when the judge will consider a psychiatric report.

The court was told that the girls were aged between 12 and 14 when the offence occurred.

Judge Neilan said it was extremely worrying from reading the statements that this man had a rope and a stick with him.

"This issue is not about someone flashing their genitals in public. He also had a rope and a stick brought by him for some sadistic purpose. This was vivid and vile conduct," said the Judge.

The court heard the offence occurred after a football match when the defendant was asked by one of the young girls if she could use the toilet.

Cleere had the keys and he let the girls in. He then dropped his trousers as they came back out.

Tom Felle

? Irish Independent