Former GAA Referee Sentenced to Over Six Years in Prison for Long-Term Abuse of Niece

Portlaoise: A former GAA referee has been sentenced to six years and nine months in prison for the prolonged indecent assault of his niece, who was only three or four years old when the abuse began and continued until she reached puberty.

The survivor, Maeve Leahy, waived her right to anonymity so that her uncle-in-law, Thomas Howard, could be publicly identified. Speaking outside Portlaoise Circuit Court after Thursday’s sentencing, Maeve said she finally felt a sense of justice and hoped her decision to come forward would encourage others suffering in silence to seek help.

“I’m happy,” she told RTÉ. “I didn’t really know what to expect, but I am happy with that outcome. I do feel like I got my justice today. I hope that, now, I’ll be able to carry on with my life a bit better.”

Maeve said she drew strength from reading about other survivors’ experiences and hoped her story might inspire at least “one or two more people like me” to speak out about abuse.

Howard, now 79, pleaded guilty to multiple charges relating to offences committed in the mid-1980s, including indecent assault and coercing a child into sexual contact. The court heard that the repeated assaults occurred over several years, beginning when Maeve was a toddler.

Some incidents took place during a period when Howard was an active GAA referee. He officiated the 1993 All-Ireland Football Final between Derry and Cork, and also refereed several high-profile matches between Meath and Dublin in 1991.

The sentence marks a significant acknowledgement of the harm inflicted, with Maeve’s courage in identifying herself drawing widespread praise for helping to highlight the importance of speaking out against sexual abuse.