Golf coach sentenced to 11 years for 1980s rapes

A former golf professional was today handed prison terms totalling 11-1/2 years for the historic rape of two girls.

The terms given to Michael Joseph O'Leary, 44, were cumulative with the six years he is already serving for indecent assaults involving other victims, making a total of 17 1/2 years behind bars.

Defence counsel Ron Mansfield was clearly surprised by the decision of Justice Patricia Courtney in the High Court at Auckland. Mr Mansfield had argued for a cumulative total of 10 to 12 years for all offences, including those for which O'Leary had already been jailed. Prosecutor Fletcher Pilditch had submitted a figure of 12-14 years.

Outside court, Mr Mansfield indicated that an appeal would be filed immediately.

The offences for which O'Leary faced sentenced today happened a quarter of a century ago and involved girls aged eight and 12.

In May, a High Court jury found him guilty on two charges of rape, one of attempted rape, seven of indecent assault and two of inducing an indecent act.

The offences involving the younger victim happened from 1979 to 1981. Those involving the older girl happened in 1982. They were said to have occurred when O'Leary was a golf coach in Masterton.

Justice Courtney said she did not give much weight to the fact that O'Leary was already in prison.

She said it was a coincidence that he was in jail for incidents that post-dated the case before her.

Justice Courtney did not accept mitigating factors presented by the defence, including O'Leary's age at the time, his acceptance of the guilty verdict and his preparedness to seek help.

She said O'Leary had not shown any remorse and listed aggravating features as his abuse of trust, the age and innocence of the victims and some clear premeditation on his part.

In June last year, O'Leary was jailed for six years at Auckland District Court after admitting indecently assaulting a young female in the 1980s and eight indecent assaults on three boys aged 12 to 14, who were junior golfers in Auckland.

It was publicity over that hearing that led to the two rape complainants coming forward.

Justice Courtney said both woman remained affected by what had happened to them.

One suffered from depression, anxiety attacks and nightmares. The other had attempted suicide before giving evidence in court and had contemplated it again since.

Justice Courtney had originally considered handing down a seven-year term for the rape of the eight-year-old and one of 6-1/2 years for the rape of the 12-year-old, both to be cumulative.

But she was concerned that might be excessive, and reduced the total by two years.

Terms imposed for the other convictions were to be served concurrently.

Outside court, Detective Roger Small, officer in charge of the case, said the complainants would be pleased that O'Leary had finally paid for what he had done to them years ago.

But he said there would be disappointment O'Leary had still shown no remorse.

- NZPA