October 2014: Back in Courtown, Co.Wexford
July 2004
Businessman, 62, attacked girl of 13
A PERVERT businessman was sentenced to a year in jail yesterday for abusing a 13-year-old girl hired to babysit his grandchildren.
Michael Wafer, now 64, was named and shamed at his victim’s request for the sordid assault in his home.
The girl, now 15, had told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court Judge Yvonne Murphy that she wanted his identity revealed.
In evidence by video link the victim said she went to Wafer’s house to arrange a babysitting appointment and he offered to show her the room where she would be babysitting.
She added that as they left, he turned off a light and gave her a “French kiss”.
Judge Murphy then heard how Wafer asked her to sit down and she thought he was going to apologise, but he took off her underwear and assaulted her.
Wafer asked her if she was a virgin and when the girl replied “yes” he said he wouldn’t take “that” away, pausing before adding the word “yet”.
Wafer later walked her home and soon after the abuse in February 2002 she made a complaint to gardai.
Wafer, from Courtown Harbour, Co Wexford, was told by Judge Murphy that she regarded his crimes as very serious and could have jailed him for 14 years.
Judge Murphy blasted the accused for protesting his innocence to the end, preventing probation officers from putting him on a sex offenders course.
She said: “Sexually assaulting a child is a very serious offence. One of the most aggravating factors was that he was 62 and she was 13 at the time. I am taking into account his age and health, and the fact that no violence was used.
“I have no option but to impose a custodial sentence which I will limit to 12 months.”
Judge Murphy added that the accused is to be placed on the register of sex offenders.
Wafer’s lawyer Michael Counihan said his client had been severely punished by “very unfortunate media reporting” of the case which had dealt his reputation a most serious blow.
But Judge Murphy intervened to say she had no evidence before her to support that and added media reports of these cases were not illegal.
Wafer and his family now plan to move to Spain, the court heard.
Judge Murphy also ordered Wafer to undergo three years of post-release supervision.
