2 YEARS FOR SEX ATTACK ON NUN AGED 82; Pervert abused helpless victim in nursing home.

Byline: By SONYA McLEAN

A SICK pervert who sexually assaulted an 82-year-old nun suffering from Alzheimer's was jailed for two years yesterday.

Denis Cummins, 61, pleaded guilty to the nursing home attack in February last year.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard he was caught kissing the victim, fondling her breasts and touching her vagina. She has since died.

The court was told Cummins, from Griffith Parade, Finglas East, Dublin, was spotted by another nun who was cleaning the victim's bathroom.

Judge Katherine Delahunt said the victim was very vulnerable and the attack would raise concerns over the safety of the the elderly in such institutions.

Garda Paul Darley told the court when Cummins was challenged about the incident he said he had only kissed the woman and given her chocolates.

But he later admitted to gardai he had deliberately touched the victim and kissed her but he did not remember fondling her breasts.

The court heard he had no previous convictions and had not come to the attention of gardai before.

His victim had been living in the nursing home for 10 years and after the assault, friends said she became withdrawn, sad and distant. They also noticed that she never smiled again.

Her niece told gardai she once saw her aunt with her eyes closed and palms turned upwards, repeatedly saying: "Go away, go away".

Garda Darley agreed the nun who witnessed the assault did not observe the victim in a distressed state during it.

Cummins' legal team told the court he wished to apologise to the family.

He was put on the sex offenders' register and ordered to be placed under two years of post-release supervision.

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CAPTION(S):

PRAVED: Denis Cummins outside court in Dublin yesterday Picture: COLLINS