A man who groomed and sexually abused a boy he mentored in a midlands GAA club has been jailed for nine years.
The 41-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, abused the boy over a six-year period.
The Central Criminal Court heard the man was extradited from the United States a number of years ago to face the charges, and has been in custody since that date.
The man pleaded guilty to sample counts including attempted rape, seven counts of anal rape, four counts of sexual assault, two counts of assault causing harm and one of harassment at various locations in dates between 2004 and 2010.
The court heard that 71 other charges from the same period are being taken into account for sentencing. The offences took place at locations including the man's home, at a sports grounds in the Midlands and a hotel in Dublin.
Justice Michael MacGrath imposed concurrent sentences totally ten and half years having indicated that a headline sentence of 13.5 years would be appropriate in the case.
At an earlier sentence hearing last July, the man read from his victim impact statement in which he said the man stole his soul, his innocence and his belief and he suffered a lost childhood.
He was left isolated and alone and when he finally refused to be exploited by the man, the accused continued to contact him on a regular basis, harassing and threatening him.
Mr Justice MacGrath said he takes some "solace" in the fact that the man has managed to obtain a masters degree "but not without a struggle".
He noted that the victim concluded in his statement that "despite everything that happened, he has now faced his adversity" and is looking forward to his future.
