Jehovah’s Witness elder jailed for 3 years for sexual abuse
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A woman who was sexually abused by a Jehovah’s Witnesses elder in County Mayo has told a court that he destroyed her childhood, adulthood, motherhood and her whole life.
Jorge Paris (62) of Monastery Heath Court, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, was handed a three year jail sentence at a sitting of Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court.
The court heard that Paris was disfellowshipped from the Jehovah’s Witnesses, or removed from the congregation, after the abuse came to light.
He pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual assault and one of attempted sexual assault at an address in Co Mayo on dates between December 2000 and February 2003.
The complainant (48), who can’t be named to protect her anonymity, was aged six or seven when she was first sexually abused by Paris.
Judge Eoin Garavan said the egregious sexual abuse inflicted by Paris during the victim’s childhood in a different jurisdiction was not the subject of this case, but was a hugely aggravating factor.
The judge said Paris had committed “acts of evil” on the background of historic sex abuse and that he had exploited his dominant position of trust within the Jehovah’s Witness community.
He set a headline sentence of six years and noted that the victim was heavily pregnant when Paris attempted to sexually assault her in the last offence, which was another aggravating factor.
Citing mitigation, Judge Garavan reduced the headline sentence to four and a half years in prison with the final 18 months suspended.
The judge said there was a ‘Jekyll and Hyde element’ to the case, noting Paris’s absence of previous or subsequent offences, his employment as a cashier for 25 years and his stable marriage of 40 years.
In a victim impact statement which she read aloud in court, the woman said that Paris had ruined her life and destroyed her chance to grow up safely, free from shame and fear.
“I was barely old enough to learn how to read when you began abusing me. I trusted you; you should have protected me,” she read.
The woman said the anger Paris caused her has resulted in high blood pressure, kidney failure and a deep sense of shame and embarrassment.
“You are the one who should be ashamed. You robbed me of innocence, happiness and peace,” said the woman, saying she cannot remember ever feeling fully happy.
In the statement, the woman described how the abuse had damaged her relationship with her own daughter and made her feel betrayed by others who had sided with Paris, whom she described as a “monster and a predator”.
“This time I am taking back control,” the woman said. “You will not live in my head any longer.”
Judge Garavan thanked the woman for her courage and said he hoped she has taken back control and that it brings some degree of closure.
The judge said the abuse had caused the woman “irreparable damage, hurt, emotional and mental health issues”.
Desmond Dockery SC, defending Paris, read aloud a letter of apology from the accused in which he begged for mercy and forgiveness.
In the letter, Paris apologised for his “detestable actions”, “shocking animalistic acts” and “diabolical behaviour” and said he realised how hard it must have been “carrying my dirty secret for years”.
A testimonial from Paris’s adult daughter was also read aloud describing her father as an unwavering source of support and love.
The court heard that Paris moved to Ireland from the Philippines in 1999 and has two adult children.
Content retrieved from: https://courtsnewsireland.ie/jehovahs-witness-elder-jailed-for-3-years-for-sexual-abuse/2025/11/05/.
