KILLIMOR ACCOUNTANT FOUND GUILTY OF SEX ASSAULTS ON SCHOOLGIRLS

Date Published: 27-Feb-2013

A 42-year-old Galway accountant has been found guilty by a jury of the sexual assault of four schoolgirls in Killimor village over a ten-year period.

Father of two, Liam Brien, of 3 Valley Park, Killimor, had denied 23 charges of sexual assault against the four girls which took place in his office at his parent's home on Main Street, Killimor on various dates between 1996 and 2006 when they were aged between five and twelve years of age.

All four girls, who are now aged between 18 and 21, broke down crying while being cross-examined by defence counsel, Bernard Condon, during the five-day trial at Galway Circuit Criminal Court.

They told the jury of three women and nine men the accused sexually assaulted each of them in turn while they sat on his lap in front of his office computer.

He also tried to lure some of them into the house with sweets when they were older but they had refused. The jury found Brien guilty of all but one charge following six and a half hours of deliberation over two days.

The girls and their parents cried when the verdicts were read out for each charge.

They hugged and kissed each other and they also hugged and kissed Garda Mary Hession, Garda William O'Gorman and Sgt. Tom Waters who led the investigation.

All smiled broadly as Brien was led away in handcuffs by two prison officers.

He will be sentenced next Thursday week, March 7.