Latest news with #Ballyshannon
BreakingNews.ie
8 hours ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Young woman says she will not allow sexual assault to define her as cousin is jailed
A young Co Donegal woman has said she will not allow a sex assault on her to define her as her older cousin was jailed for 15 months for the crime. Brave Louise McMenamin waived her anonymity so her cousin Joseph McGinty could be named in court. Advertisement Ms McMenamin was just 10 and Joseph McGinty was aged 14 when he assaulted her during a sleepover at her home. McGinty, now 27, had pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting Louise McMenamin on an unknown date between June 1st and September 1st, 2012. However, after a three day trial at Donegal Circuit Court, McGinty was found guilty by a jury of the allegation. McGinty, from Ballyshannon, was accused of touching the then ten year old girl on her bum and beneath her breast area while he was visiting the girl in her house on a sleepover. Advertisement McGinty sneaked into the girl's room and touched her on the bottom beneath her nightdress and then touched her breast area. Details of the incident were given at the sentencing hearing by Garda Catherine Henry of Ballyshannon Garda Station. After touching the young girl on her bum and under her chest, the court heard the young girl woke up and McGinty, with an address at Abberlands, Ballyshannon hid down behind the bed and she could hear him breathing. Advertisement She initially pretended to be asleep but when he got up to leave she asked him what he was doing in her room. The girl immediately went downstairs and told her father what had happened and he took the girl into her mother and a complaint was later made. The victim, who told the court that she wanted to be named so that McGinty could be named also, read a heart-wrenching victim impact statement about how the episode had impacted her life so deeply in so many negative ways. But Ms Louise McMenamin also told McGinty how she has now "been courageous enough to hold you accountable, seek justice and stand up to you." Advertisement Witness box She outlined the night she was set upon as a child in detail as she fought back tears in the witness box. She told how she has spent years in therapy with both the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and also the Rape Crisis Centre (RCC) trying to remedy her anxiety and depression but that she still cannot tell herself that she is no longer in danger and safe from McGinty. She added "What you did to me, as a helpless 10 year old child has shaped the young woman I am now, and I hate that you have that power. I will always wonder, and never have the answers, about the person I would have been if you had not taken advantage of me at my most vulnerable. "It has changed the way I look at the world, the way I look at people. You knew right from wrong, and the poor decision you made that night has left me with a lifetime of fallout. I still experience crippling anxiety if I meet you in public, and although I now face up to you as an adult, it is the child in me that has suffered this pain that you caused that I am fighting for. Advertisement "I have carried the guilt of this burden for almost 13 years. The guilt of getting into trouble, the guilt of taking our cousins and extended family away from my brothers, the guilt of knowing that my parents feel like they have failed me. The guilt of missing valuable years without grandparents , the guilt of isolating myself from family and friends that did stand by me. The guilt of still letting this, letting you, control me and so much of my life all these years later. "I am choosing now to no longer carry this guilt, because it is not mine. You caused this, the weight of it has been suffocating and made me feel worthless, I will leave it behind." Ms McMenamin said there were times when questioned if she would be strong enough to face her abuser. But, she added, at aged 23 years, she is thankful that she fought her corner, told her truth and sought justice. And she thanked all those who stood beside her as she sought that justice and revealed how she is now graduating from university. She concluded "This may seem a short incident, but it has been my whole life from the night it took place. I do not deserve to feel this way anymore, I want to move on and start living my life for me, with this chapter closed. "I did not deserve to suffer due to your actions, to be shunned by our family for telling the truth and miss out on so many opportunities because of fear. I will no longer carry the shame of what you put me through, because I did nothing wrong. "It may have taken years, but I have realised that I am so much more than what you did to me. I cannot undo what you have done, and this will always be part of me, but I will not let it define me. Trauma "I survived what happened, and I will be a voice for other girls. I will not collapse under this trauma. I will continue to show bravery, move on and make younger me proud of the woman I have become, despite all the obstacles in my way." The mother of Joseph McGinty also took to the witness stand and told how the incident had had a massive impact on both families. She said that as a mother and an aunt she recognised "the trauma that both of these children have been through." She added that their grandparents had passed away with this matter on their minds. Mrs McGinty said she empathised with the trauma that Louise had suffered but that she was asking the court for leniency for her son. She reflected on how her son had grown up from being a happy boy to waking up with nightmares and being prescribed anti-depressant medication and developing severe eczema. However, he went through college and qualified as a civil engineer who is a popular worker within his company who has the full support of his boss. Mrs McGinty added that her son also respects the verdict of the jury in his case. Barrister for the accused, Mr Colm Smyth, SC, said this was indeed a tragic case which has had a debilitating effect on the extended families. Ms Smyth said it has been recognised the trauma which the victim has gone through but he said his client had suffered too and asked the court to take into account that the offence was committed when he was fourteen years old. He added that the level of maturity must come into play and he produced case law on this aspect of the case. He said McGinty respects the verdict of the court and has the capacity to take it in that time period but again stressed his client was at a very early stage of his development, either sexual or otherwise, at the time. He asked the court to consider a non-custodial sentence given the particular circumstances adding that McGinty has already suffered considerably and has carried the burden since his conviction. Passing sentence, Judge John Aylmer said the aggravating factors in the case was that the victim was only ten years old at the time and the "very severe impact" the offending has had on her as he made reference to her victim impact statement. He referred to the consequences of the assault and how Ms McMenamin still suffered and had to engage in counselling to cope with anxiety, depression and post traumatic stress disorder right throughout her education and has bravely struggled with all those effects. The Judge said he had to decide what the headline sentence for McGinty should be before factoring in that he was only 14 years at the time and said that if it was an adult who snuck into the bedroom then without hesitation he would impose a sentence of three years in prison. He added the law establishes the fact that the accused was 14 years old although he added that there was no evidence as to how sophisticated a young man he was in his development. The fact that he snuck in and sought to commit the offence when Ms McMenamin was asleep and then hid behind the bed when she woke up, indicated that he had full awareness of what he was doing, added Judge Aylmer. He said this was the only evidence he had to make a determination as to the accused's culpability. He said he was entitled to have his own experience of life and of fourteen year olds and add that to his assessment, and with the guidance of authorities open to him, Judge Aylmer said he deemed it appropriate to reduce the sentence by 50% to one of 18 months in prison. He added the few mitigating factors that exist mandate a reduction to one of 15 months in prison, a reduction of one sixth. He then said the question then arises if some or all of the sentence could be suspended as McGinty had come before the courts with no previous convictions and having no adverse attention since the incident. He said he had taken into account that he was a minor and allowed him a 50% reduction. Because of the gravity of the case and there is no admission of guilt and no expression of remorse for the victim to avail of, as well as nothing before the court about rehabilitation for you, Judge Aylmer said this is not a case where the court could justify a suspended sentence. He sentenced McGinty to 15 months in prison and placed him on the sex offender's register for a period of five years. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at or visit Rape Crisis Help .
BBC News
25-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
All-Ireland SFC: Saturday's Ulster derby matches as they happened
Update: Date: 21:33 BST 24 May Title: McGee: 'We only have ourselves to blame' Content: FT: Donegal 0-20 Tyrone 2-17 Donegal selector Neil McGee admitted his team was below par in their defeat to Tyrone. Speaking to GAA+, he said: "It could have gone any way, but we weren't really at it from the start. We got caught too many times trying to play the ball over and I don't know what our turnover count was. Tyrone probably deserved it. "It's a long season and you're going to the well every week. You try to get up there, but we just didn't get up to the pitch of it today. "We were two points up after 64, 65 minutes and were on the attack, gave the ball away and Tyrone went up (to score). We didn't touch the ball again after that and that's what it came down to. It's thin margins, but we have only ourselves to blame." Update: Date: 21:27 BST 24 May Title: Tyrone boss O'Rourke delighted with his team's character Content: FT: Donegal 0-20 Tyrone 2-17 Tyrone boss Malachy O'Rourke hailed his side's character in their win over Donegal. Speaking to GAA+ he said: "Probably the charachter the boys showed. We got a good start but at half-time we lost two leaders (Brian Kennedy and Padraig Hampsey) and it could have been a night where we said, 'we've put in a good show but it wasn;t going to be our night'. "The way Donegal came back and we always knew they would as they are a quality team. They went ahead and again, we could have folded up our tents, but the composure the boys showed and willingness to fight for each other, get back ahead and hold it was really pleasing. "It only gets us two points, but it's a good start to the group and we just have to settle down and look towards next week (against Mayo)." Update: Date: 21:05 BST 24 May Title: Post Content: FT: Donegal 0-20 Tyrone 2-17 What a see-saw battle that was. Just as it seemed Donegal were striking for home, Tyrone replied and that Peter Harte two-pointer was a huge score. The Red Hands head home with a massive two points ahead of their home assignment against Mayo next week, while Donegal will now seek to regroup ahead of another Ulster derby when they travel to Cavan. Update: Date: 21:02 BST 24 May Title: Tyrone defeat Donegal Content: Donegal 0-20 Tyrone 2-17 Tyrone get their hands on the kick-out and that is it. The ball is leathered off the pitch as the horn goes and Tyrone grab a huge win in Ballybofey against the Ulstet champions. With that goes Jim McGuinness' record hof having nev er lost a championship game i MacCumhaill Park. Update: Date: 21:00 BST 24 May Title: Post Content: Donegal 0-20 Tyrone 2-17 Cormac Quinn is through and kicks a score to put a goal between them. One last play left. Update: Date: 20:59 BST 24 May Title: Post Content: Donegal 0-20 Tyrone 2-16 Tyrone have their hands on the ball and are seeking to drain the clock. 90 seconds left. Update: Date: 20:57 BST 24 May Title: Harte nails a two! Content: Donegal 0-20 Tyrone 2-16 Peter Harte steps up and thumps over a two-pointer to give Tyrone the lead with three to play. Update: Date: 20:55 BST 24 May Title: Level again Content: Donegal 0-20 Tyrone 2-14 Darragh Canavan ties it up once again from a free. Update: Date: 20:53 BST 24 May Title: Post Content: Donegal 0-20 Tyrone 2-13 Tyrone turn the ball over and counter at pace with Darren McCurry finishing. Update: Date: 20:52 BST 24 May Title: Donegal lead Content: Donegal 0-20 Tyrone 2-12 Donegal hit the front and in superb style as Patrick McBrearty slings over a two-pointer from out on the left. Update: Date: 20:51 BST 24 May Title: Post Content: Donegal 0-18 Tyrone 2-12 It's level again and it's Langan again. He is on fire this evening. Update: Date: 20:50 BST 24 May Title: Substitution Content: Donegal 0-17 Tyrone 2-12 Eoghan Ban Gallagher's return to the field is over for today as he makes way for Odhran Doherty for the last 10 minutes. Update: Date: 20:49 BST 24 May Title: Post Content: Donegal 0-17 Tyrone 2-12 Tyrone stright upfield and Ciaran Daly fists over. 11 to go. Update: Date: 20:48 BST 24 May Title: All square Content: Donegal 0-17 Tyrone 2-11 Michael Langan is having a stormer and he levels it with his sixth point of the game. Update: Date: 20:47 BST 24 May Title: Post Content: Donegal 0-16 Tyrone 2-11 Donegal with 11 wides now but that crossfield wind is causing havoc with the shots. Tyrone have also just made their last switch with Frank Burns in for Rory Brennan. Update: Date: 20:45 BST 24 May Title: Yellow card Content: Donegal 0-16 Tyrone 2-11 Tyrone's Ciaran Daly goes into the book for an off-the-ball challenge. Update: Date: 20:43 BST 24 May Title: Substitution Content: Donegal 0-16 Tyrone 2-11 Malachy O'Rouke makes his fourth change with Eoin McElholm in for Mark Bradley. Update: Date: 20:41 BST 24 May Title: Post Content: Donegal 0-16 Tyrone 2-11 Into the final quarter and those two, two-pointers have Donegal right back in it. This is anybody's game at this stage. Update: Date: 20:40 BST 24 May Title: Post Content: Donegal 0-16 Tyrone 2-11 Michael Langan now hits one from deep and the gap is suddently down to one. Tyrone respond by bringing in Peter Harte to replace Mattie Donnelly. Update: Date: 20:39 BST 24 May Title: Murphy with another two Content: Donegal 0-14 Tyrone 2-11 Donegal really needed that and Michael Murphy steps up again to land his third two-point free of the game.
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Donegal 'found a way' to overcome Derry
Donegal boss Jim McGuinness praised his team's late fightback as they beat Ulster derby rivals Derry 1-22 to 1-19 on Sunday. The Ballyshannon hosts were eight points down with 15 minutes left in the Division One encounter before clinching a comeback victory. "Derry came very hard at us and played very, very well," McGuinness told BBC Sport NI after the game. "We were flat for long, long periods of the game but managed to find a way - in a way that's the most pleasing thing." Derry led 0-11 to 0-7 at the break and a goal from Conor Glass saw them extend their advantage after the restart. Shane O'Donnell netted as Donegal hit 1-6 without reply and secured a win which leaves them in second place and only behind leaders Galway on scoring difference with two matches remaining. A top-two finish would see Donegal earn in a place in the final but that would mean playing seven games in eight weeks ahead of another meeting with Derry in the Ulster Championship on 6 April. "It's clear the boys need a break," he added. "It's not ideal for us but you're in Division One and you want to get to this point so we have to celebrate that as well." "We're not in a league final - there's a lot of other games to be played and there's a lot of other teams that can be in the final."
BBC News
03-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Donegal 'found a way' to overcome Derry
Donegal boss Jim McGuinness praised his team's late fightback as they beat Ulster derby rivals Derry 1-22 to 1-19 on Ballyshannon hosts were eight points down with 15 minutes left in the Division One encounter before clinching a comeback victory."Derry came very hard at us and played very, very well," McGuinness told BBC Sport NI after the game."We were flat for long, long periods of the game but managed to find a way - in a way that's the most pleasing thing."Derry led 0-11 to 0-7 at the break and a goal from Conor Glass saw them extend their advantage after the O'Donnell netted as Donegal hit 1-6 without reply and secured a win which leaves them in second place and only behind leaders Galway on scoring difference with two matches remaining.A top-two finish would see Donegal earn in a place in the final but that would mean playing seven games in eight weeks ahead of another meeting with Derry in the Ulster Championship on 6 April."It's clear the boys need a break," he added."It's not ideal for us but you're in Division One and you want to get to this point so we have to celebrate that as well.""We're not in a league final - there's a lot of other games to be played and there's a lot of other teams that can be in the final."
