A CO Donegal pensioner who admitted indecently assaulting three girls more than 40 years ago has been jailed at Derry Crown Court.
John Callaghan (71) of Drung, Quigley’s Point, Co Donegal, pleaded guilty to 14 charges of indecent assault between January 1972 and January 1982.
Derry Crown Court heard the first victim was eight when the abuse began.
Callaghan sat her on his knee, put his arms around her and rubbed her chest.
The second victim was 11 when she was abused by the defendant in a similar way.
Callaghan indecently assaulted the third girl when she was six.
He pushed against her, rubbed himself against her and touched her underneath her underwear.
The 71-year-old abused each girl on more than one occasion in the homes of family members and friends.
Callaghan was interviewed by police in March 2015 and denied the allegations.
He claimed he did not have much interaction with the girls and “never interfered with anyone”.
Following his guilty pleas, the pensioner told a psychologist he “did not think he was doing any harm” to the victims.
Judge Philip Babington said the offences were aggravated by the age of the victims at the time, the length of time over which the offending took place, the breach of trust and the effect on the victims.
He said victim impact reports indicated “the defendant’s behaviour had a destructive affect on the whole family.”
The judge said such offending had to be met with a custodial sentence. He said Callaghan’s offences were “selfish only for your own benefit.”
He sentenced Callaghan to a total of 30 months with 18 months to be spent in custody and 12 months on probation.
Callaghan was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register for a period of ten years.
