For six years of their childhood, between the ages of six and twelve, our client was repeatedly sexually abused by a private individual. The harm did not stay in childhood. It followed them into adult life as severe and lasting psychiatric injury. A settlement of €950,000 was reached, without admission of liability, in 2025, following a historical child sexual abuse claim.

The abuse left our client with post-traumatic stress disorder, night terrors, flashbacks and anxiety, which they lived with for years. Bringing a civil claim was a way to hold the person responsible to account and to secure something for the future.

How the claim was investigated

Patrick Coleman acted for our client in the historical child sexual abuse claim. A civil claim of this kind arises from assault and trespass to the person and is pursued through the courts rather than the Injuries Resolution Board.

The law also recognises how long survivors of childhood abuse may need before they are able to come forward: time does not begin to run against a child until they turn eighteen, and under section 48A of the Statute of Limitations 1957, a survivor is treated as being under a disability for as long as the psychological effects of the abuse prevent them from bringing a case. A consultant psychiatrist was instructed to set out the nature and extent of the psychiatric injury our client had suffered.

The outcome

The historical child sexual abuse claim was resolved in 2025 with a settlement of €950,000, reached without admission of liability. It was settled by agreement before court proceedings were issued, which meant our client did not have to give evidence at a contested hearing.

How Coleman Legal helped

Patrick Coleman handled the case with the sensitivity and discretion it needed, and worked to resolve it in a way that spared our client the ordeal of a trial. Reflecting on the case, he noted that where both parties are private individuals, reaching an agreement outside the courts can be beneficial to both sides, and that in a case of this severity, a settlement was a significant outcome for the client.