June 2014
Tensions run high after letter expose warns locals of pervert’s presence
A letter has been sent to families this week warning them about the presence of sex beast Michael Boyce in the area following a Sunday World exposé.
Pervert Michael Boyce (68), was previously jailed for breaking into the home of an elderly woman in the dead of night, often using a home-made ladder to get into her window, and raping her.
However, Boyce, from Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, did not just confine his sick urges to the elderly – he was also convicted of sexually assaulting a young girl.
Last week the Sunday World revealed how he was working just 300 metres from the Sonna National School near the Co. Westmeath town.
But now it has emerged that a second quiet rural community is also living in terror of sicko Boyce.
It is believed that Boyce has been spending every weekend with a female companion in Clonony, Co. Offaly, for the last few years – travelling from Mullingar after work on a Friday.
The convicted rapist was known to locals in the area as ‘Mike’ and was often seen in local pubs with his female pal.
But now the community is up in arms at Boyce’s presence in the area and letters warning families with kids to “watch out” have been sent out.
A local source said tensions were very high in the area and that a number of local men were considering taking the law “into their own hands”.
On Friday a group of locals spoke to the woman, but she insisted Boyce was welcome in her home.
One source told the Sunday World that Boyce arrived on Friday night and a meeting was held in the village a few hours later.
“He came, same as ever, on Friday evening. He parked his car outside the house and went in. But he will be gotten rid of, there is no doubt about that.”
Part-time postman Boyce, from Rathconrath, Mullingar, was jailed for eight years in March 2001 after a 22-day trial for raping pensioner Mary Hope in her home in 1989, and on charges of attempted rape and sexual assaults on specific dates.
Mr Justice Quirke said Boyce terrorised Ms Hope – who passed away in 2012 – over an 11-year period and had forced her from her home.
Each time she reported the attacks to neighbours and gardaí, but she was unable to identify the attacker who invaded her isolated farmhouse at night.
It started in 1983 when a man called at her door claiming to be from the ESB. He cut off the lights. Then he hit her, stripped off her clothes and tried to rape her.
He called 10 times between 1983 and 1994 – once he claimed to be an IRA man.
At the time he was convicted Boyce was already serving a sentence for the indecent assault of a then 10-year-old child. He was sentenced to eight years for these attacks, dating back to when he was first taken into custody in February 1999.
