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Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has confirmed that Circuit Courtroom Decide Gerard O’Brien, who was convicted of sexually assaulting six males, has resigned. She stated the resignation was efficient from January fifth.
“The resignation has been conveyed to the President in accordance with the necessities of part 6 (2) of the Courts (Institution and Structure) Act 1961,” a spokesman stated.
“The Minister will probably be making no additional touch upon this matter previous to the court docket finalising the case by sentencing, which is adjourned to March 4th.”
One in all O’Brien’s victims, who had been aged between 17 and 24, had earlier referred to as for his resignation. The offences occurred on dates between 1991 and 1997, when O’Brien labored as a trainer at a second-level faculty in Co Dublin. 4 complainants had been pupils or former pupils.
The trial heard O’Brien, now aged 59 and with an tackle in Thurles, Co Tipperary, was born with out arms and with only one leg and desires help dressing and going to the bathroom.
5 complainants instructed the trial that they had stayed in a single day in his residence to help him, and woke to search out him performing sexual acts on them. The sixth complainant stated O’Brien had sexually assaulted him whereas he was bringing him to the bathroom in a pub.
[ Judge convicted of sexually assaulting six males on dates in the 1990s ]
Following O’Brien’s conviction on December twenty second, Mr Justice Alexander Owens adjourned sentence to March 4th subsequent when victim-impact statements are anticipated to be heard.
Instantly following the conviction, the Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, stated these had been “appalling circumstances of sexual assault” and she or he was searching for recommendation from the Legal professional Basic in regards to the choices open to the Authorities and the Oireachtas regarding the matter.
Reiterating her goal of “zero tolerance” for all types of home, sexual and gender-based violence right here, the Minister stated O’Brien’s conviction was “clear proof” that no one is above the regulation or immune from prosecution for such crimes.
One of many survivors of the offences, who can’t be recognized for authorized causes, instructed The Irish Instances on Friday he believed the decide ought to resign.
“Gerard O’Brien put the six of us by means of the arduous technique of going to trial as a way to obtain justice,” the survivor stated. “He may have saved us that hardship.
“If Gerard O’Brien refuses to resign, he’ll drag each the political and authorized techniques by means of the same authorized quagmire. He ought to resign and save everybody from this pointless journey.”
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