“My rapist brother almost got away”

This is the top trombonist who was jailed for sexually abusing his sister during her childhood.

The Irish Sun photographs Karl Ronan for the first time after he was exposed about the ordeal that destroyed his younger sibling’s life.

Brave survivor Lynn Ronan waived her anonymity after the case closed last week so her perverted brother, who was jailed for five and a half years, could be named.

Brave Lynn stood up to him in court and told him: “You almost got away with that. I just wanted to feel like it wasn’t my fault and stop the lies.”

55-year-old fiend Karl raped and abused 51-year-old Lynn at locations in Dublin and Laois for four years between 1982 and 1986.

Lynn was just 10 years old while Karl was 14 when he repeatedly attacked her.

The Central Criminal Court heard how Ronan’s underhanded actions were “swept under the carpet”.

We can reveal how he studied at the prestigious Royal Irish Academy of Music as an adult and went on to become a leading jazz musician.

A career biography states: “As one of the most versatile trombonists in the country, he is involved in a wide variety of music projects.

“In addition to his jazz performance, he freelances with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland and has made numerous performances, tours and recordings with them.”

On his own Linkedin page, Ronan wrote that he has been a freelance professional trombonist in various genres since 1988, but also described himself as an “educator, mentor, improviser.”

He also worked as a voice actor and was involved in many music organizations including the Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland and the Peace Proms.

But his evil crimes would come back to haunt him when they were reported in 2018.

Garda Sergeant Paul Daly told the Central Criminal Court that the investigation began after Lynn disclosed childhood sexual abuse during a counseling session.

Child abuse

Lynn described how the abuse began when her brother sneaked into her room to touch her.

Then it escalated to him forcing her to masturbate to him and eventually raping her.

She was physically bullied and coerced by her brother, which constantly wore her down.

The abuse stopped when their mother found out and they were taken to a child psychologist.

When first questioned by gardai, Ronan tried to portray his sick actions as “acting” and “consensual acts”, while simultaneously denying rape.

confession

But Tyrrellstown thug Dubin later pleaded guilty in court.

In her victim impact statement, Lynn said he continued to “spread the narrative” that he was the wronged one and his life was ruined when he admitted his guilt.

He even told a relative that she would “make it bigger than it was.”

The events had an impact on her entire life and well-being, she said. Ronan apologized, but Lynn rejected the “self-serving” note, saying it was “too little, too late.”

“The pressure on the victim remains”

Before jailing Ronan, Judge Paul McDermott said: “The pressure remains on the victim to keep the secret and not speak.”

“It can take years, as in this case, and it takes a lot to dig the complaint out from under the rocks and express the truth in the matter.

“This has been done and the complainant deserves praise for it.”

Lynn then said: “I would like to thank all the people who have helped me through this, namely the Gardai and investigators, my lawyer, the victim support group at the courthouse and most of all my wonderful sons.”

“It was a long process over many years, but I am very happy with the judge’s decision.

“I would encourage anyone who has been through what I went through to come forward, report it and get help. You will be believed and there is a lot of support out there.”