Judge orders man to pay €100,000 compensation to abused nephew
The High Court has ordered a 45-year-old Dublin man to pay €100,000 in damages to his nephew who he sexually abused on a number of occasions almost 30 years ago.
Keith Battersby (aged 36) sued his uncle John O'Neill who he said committed 12 sexual assaults on him between 1982 and 1984.
The abuse occurred in O'Neill's home and in the projection room of the Grove Cinema in Lucan, where O'Neill worked. It commenced when Mr Battersby was just six years of age.
In 2010 O'Neill was convicted at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of sexually assaulting his nephew. He was given a two-year prison sentence, which was suspended.
Today he described his abuser as "a monster" who "stole his childhood", and was a man "whose moral compass did not exist".
Mr Battersby's action was not contested and judgment had previously been made against O'Neill. The matter was before the High Court today for assessment of damages only.
O'Neill of Sarsfield Park Lucan, Co Dublin was present in court, but was not legally represented. He said he was deeply sorry for what he had done to his nephew, and a letter of apology was handed to the court.
What he did occurred when he himself was a teenager. He added that following media reports of the criminal case he had lost both his job and was trying to rebuild his life.
Mr Battersby said the apology meant nothing to him.
In his ruling High Court President Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns said Mr Battersby was entitled to €100,000 damages plus costs against O'Neill.
Mr Battersby had been subject to abuse at a young age which had been a "horrific experience" for him. It had also affected the 36-year-old and his family in the years that followed, the Judge added.
Referring to the related criminal case the Judge said that sometimes during the criminal process the focus can be on the accused person's rights while the victims can get overlooked, adding to the victim's anxiety.
