78 Year Old Farmer Given Year-Long Sentence For Child Abuse

A retired Co. Kerry farmer, who sexually assaulted a six-year-old girl after convincing her to get into his car, has been jailed for 12 months and placed on the sex offenders register by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

78-year-old Patrick Bowler of Gortmore, Baile an Fheirteirigh admitted sexually assaulting the young girl, who was a visitor to the area, on August 21, 2004.

After the sentence was handed down, he pleaded with Judge Katherine Delahunt not to jail him, saying he would not survive a week in prison. The judge rejected his pleas, saying she had already passed sentence.

A defence barrister said his client, who wished to apologise, had no explanation for his actions other than that he had been abusing alcohol at the time.