A chance meeting in a hackney cab led to a paedophile being convicted for sexually abusing a child 33 years ago.

Brendan McErlain (60), a hackney driver and father-of-four from 50 Clare view Park, Ballybane, Galway, denied indecently assaulting a six-year-old girl in Galway in April 1974.

In 1998 he drove a passenger - who happened to be a younger sister of the victim - to the family home.  He remarked how he had once dated a woman, who he named, from that area.

His passenger realised the woman was a relative of hers and she recalled her sister complained to the family of being sexually abused by the man at the time her relative had been dating him in 1974.

The victim, now 39, said McErlain abused her after showing her paedophilic images.  Judge Raymond Groarke remanded McErlain on bail until July 19 for sentencing.

12/05/2007
Ann Healy