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Dublin man who repeatedly sexually abused child at his home jailed for six years

When the victim visited, Edward Cruise sexually abused her up to 15 times a day

Today at 15:24

A man who repeatedly sexually abused a young girl in his home has been jailed for six years.

Edward Cruise (66) with an address in Raheny, Co Dublin, pleaded guilty to nine counts of sexual assault.

The girl was aged between six and 14 when the abuse occurred between 2009 and 2017.

A local garda told Eoin Lawlor BL, prosecuting, that the victim became friendly with a close relative of Cruise, who would stay with him for two weeks during summer holidays and at other times of the year.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that the abuse began the first time the young girl went to Cruise’s house and occurred whenever she was at the property, often multiple times in one day.

This relative would also stay with Cruise during other holiday periods and when the victim visited, Cruise sexually abused her, up to 15 times a day.

The abuse included inappropriate touching over and under her clothes, masturbation and oral sex. Cruise told her to keep the abuse secret and on one occasion, offered her €5 to come to his house.

The girl made a complaint to gardaí in 2020. Cruise was arrested and when interviewed, suggested the victim had fabricated the allegations “out of spite”.

After hearing facts, Judge Martin Nolan handed Cruise a global sentence of six years.

He said the victim was only six when the abuse started and should have been protected from this type of behaviour.

“To some degree she trusted this defendant. He was a grandfather at the time and I think she was entitled to trust him,” the judge said, adding that Cruise had abused that trust.

“When she was in that house, she was abused on a continuous basis by this defendant,” Judge Nolan said, suggesting that a “very conservative” estimate would be at least 100 times.

He noted the mitigating features of the case including Cruise’s guilty plea, his expressions of remorse and shame, and his age.

Judge Nolan said the court considers Cruise is probably unlikely to reoffend, but said that his previous convictions for similar offending are an aggravating factor.