Smithboro boxing coach gets seven years jail for sex abuse.

A MONAGHAN man who became one of Ireland's most renowned and respected ama­teur boxing coaches was handed down a seven-year prison sen­tence by Judge John O'Hagan at Cavan Circuit Court on Tuesday of this week after being convict­ed on charges of sex abuse.

Frank Mulligan from 7, Mulladuff, Smithboro, denied the charges of abusing two young boys while coaching them at the local boxing club. The sixty-three year old was convicted after a two-day trial last January.

Judge O'Hagan praised the courage of Mulligan's victims in coming forward to the gardai with their complaints.

Garda Sean Grant said the defendant's two victims were aged 12 and 13 years at the time, and had travelled considerable distances to be coached by him, because of his outstanding repu­tation.

Judge O'Hagan said that Mulligan had interfered with the victims in a most disgusting way. The defendant was given two concurrent seven-year sentences on two charges of buggery between the 1st January, 1990 and the 31st December, 1990. He also received two concurrent two-year sentences on charges of sexual assault. Mr Mulligan was given a further three concurrent two-year sentences on charges of indecent assault. The sentences are backdated to the 16th January, 2008, when he was taken into custody after being convict­ed.

Judge O'Hagan also stipulated that his name be placed on the sex offenders register. Leave to appeal the conviction or the severity of sentence was refused.

Counsel for the accused told the court that her client's reputation meant everything to him and this was now completely ruined by the events of the case. However, her client still denied any wrong­doing.

Before passing sentence Judge O'Hagan said the charges were very serious, and buggery was most serious. He noted that Mr Mulligan denied and continues to deny that these offences ever happened.

A jury, beyond reasonable doubt and by a majority of 11/1, found that he was guilty of these partic­ular offences, the judge noted.

It took a lot of courage by the two victims to go to the gardai, but they did so and they made very serious complaints against Mr Mulligan.

Mulligan was a very highly regarded person in the communi­ty in Smithboro. He was deemed to be a very skilled person in the area of sport, particularly boxing and football. He loved his sport and he loved ; to see the achievements of the

young people he was coaching. He was trusted implicitly by people who came under his wing at the ages of around 12 and 13 years and they too hoped to be achievers.

Unfortunately   things   turned very sour and they alleged these particular matters of assault and buggery. A jury has found him guilty of those," Judge O'Hagan said.

"It is devastating for the victims and it is devastating for Mr Mulligan, whose self esteem has been whipped from him on the basis of what he has done.

"I think the less I say about the facts and details in this case the better. Suffice it to say that I know from reading the victim impact reports on these two complainants, that their lives have been shattered, and their ability to engage with society and family, as we know it, has been severely impaired.

"One of them is seeking counseling constantly and the other is dealing with it in his own way. Both are severely traumatised by what happened.

"They were interfered with sex­ually in a most disgusting way, and in relation to the sentences I am going to impose, and I do mean a custodial sentence, I must do my best to be fair to Mr Mulligan in view of his age and the effect prison will have on him, and the fact that I must give him light at the end of the tunnel, to try and gather up his life again and try and get on with life.

"I must also be seen to punish him for the terrible wrongs he did to these gentlemen. He has no previous convictions. It is not my job and it is not for me to take revenge on Mr Mulligan for what he has done to these two young men — it is my job to punish him for what he has done.

"He denies completely the evi­dence, that it happened or did happen."

Judge O’Hagan previously remanded Mulligan in custody to Wheatfield Prison for his own safety after a two-day trial and ordered psychiatric and psychological reports on the defendant. However, Judge O’Hagan this week agreed to a request from Mulligan’s legal counsel that a further trial on separate charges due to be heard in Monaghan court on May 21^st be moved to Dublin.

Judge O’Hagan said that media publicity surrounding the case has resulted in Mulligan becoming “the most hated man in Monaghan”. This, Judge O’Hagan felt, would prejudice his case.

.

« Back to the Latest Local News & Events