July 2014

Pictured: Paedo John Carvin snapped at his home just yards from kids playground

This is the face of leering paedophile John Carvin looking out of a window just yards from a playground.

The 45-year-old dodged prison last month for sexually assaulting his brother’s stepdaughter when she was seven.

But his presence was only made widely known to residents in the Holywell neighbourhood of Swords, Co Dublin, after his house was daubed with graffiti at the weekend that read “paedophile”.

Disgusted locals have now started a campaign to kick him out, staging a protest on Monday evening and last night outside his house.

The pictures show that public pressure may be getting to the sex offender as he appears to be considering fortifying his home which is just across from a popular playground.

Carvin, who has not been seen outside his house since Monday, even refused to leave the property when a tradesman called to the door, instead speaking to him through the window.

The worker appeared to be checking the locks on the pervert’s windows, one of which seemed to be broken, as Carvin looked on wearing a vest.

A Garda spokesman said officers are investigating an incident of criminal damage – a broken window – which took place in the area at around 10pm on Monday.

When the Irish Mirror called to Carvin’s home yesterday, he didn’t even step outside his hall door to speak to our reporter.

He only opened it long enough to say: “I’m not making any comments, none whatsoever.”

Carvin now faces an uphill battle to stay in his home with locals set to step up their campaign to get rid of him – planning even more demonstrations outside the house.

One resident, who wanted to be identified only as Michael, said: “He’ll move on to another area now, he has to.

“I think most people didn’t know until his house was sprayed and the protest helped raise awareness.

“There are more protests planned now, there will be people protesting outside his house every day. He went into a pub the other day and he was recognised and thrown out, he’s becoming blacklisted in the area.

“There are kids going back to school in a few weeks, I’d say people will be spreading the word.

“I’m a father, I have four young kids myself and I wouldn’t bring my kids near the playground.

“People are mad about the fact he didn’t go to jail. He wasn’t properly punished, I think it is a disgrace. There will be more protests now as word spreads.”

Carvin’s victim refused to meet with him after he was found guilty of sexual assault.On the night of the abuse almost 14 years ago, he climbed into the seven-year-old’s bed, kissing and rubbing her.

The sicko left but then returned shortly afterwards, making the girl perform a sexual act.

Imposing his sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court last month, the judge said the abuse was “at the lower end of the scale” and added the offence seemed to be a one-off.Carvin was handed a three-year suspended sentence.

June 2014

Family members run from courtroom as paedophile gets fully suspended sentence

A man who sexually abused a family member has avoided a jail sentence after his victim refused to meet him under the Restorative Justice Programme.

Earlier this month Judge Patrick McCartan asked the victim to consider meeting John Carvin (45) under programme before he passes sentence.

The man was convicted last April of sexually assaulting the then seven year old after climbing into her bed late at night.

The court that the man was sleeping in the room beside the girl on the night of the abuse. During the night he climbed into her bed and began kissing and rubbing her.

He left but returned shortly afterwards and made her masturbate him before telling her “to get on top.” She refused and the man fell asleep. He was later discovered in the bed by another family member who told him to get out.

He was acquitted of sexually assaulting her on two other occasions.

At the previous sentence hearing, the judge said he was suggesting the programme because “this is a close family that is badly fractured by what has occurred.

“If there is a prospect that this can be put right then this might well be an option that is worth exploring.”

The court heard from Fiona Murphy BL, prosecuting, that the victim does not want to meet with Carvin.

The victim also waived her right to anonymity so he can be publicly named.

Carvin initially refused to accept the jury’s verdict but his counsel said that he has changed his mind.

Judge McCartan said it was understand that the victim does not want to meet Carvin as it would involve her reliving the abuse “in very challenging circumstances.”

He said he had investigated the programme as a possibility “in the hope that some reparation of the family relationship might be achieved.”

The Restorative Justice Programme, which is run by the Probation Service, involves parties meeting in a supervised setting to discuss the effects a crime had on the victim.

Imposing sentence, the judge noted that Carvin forced the now 20-year-old victim to go through a trial process by refusing to admit his guilt.

He also observed that he “challenged very strongly” the victim’s version of events, effectively saying she was lying.

However he said that the abuse was at the lower end of the scale and Carvin has belatedly admitted his guilt. He imposed a three year sentence suspended in full for three years.

There were emotional scenes from the victim’s supporters and one of her family members ran out of the courtroom as the non-custodial sentence was handed down.

Carvin of Holywell Crescent, Swords pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three instances of sexual assault on the child in Dublin on dates between October 2000 and February 2001.

In a victim impact report the woman said that she suffered considerable stress and anxiety as the trial approached.

She said she had nightmares about the abuse and the trial, including dreaming that the judge would shout at her and tell her that she was lying.

Defence counsel Caroline Biggs SC said that her client married in 2010 and has the support of his wife. She said he has a good work record and may keep his job depending on whether the judge sends him to prison.