Co Galway ballet teacher jailed for child sexual abuse in Mayo

A ballet teacher from County Galway has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment, with twelve months suspended, following his conviction for the sexual abuse of two young girls during dance classes in County Mayo. Leighton Morrison, aged 49, of Tuam, pleaded guilty to six sample charges arising from thirteen offences committed between January 2023 and June 2024. These included sexual assault against children aged eight and nine, child exploitation, and possession of child sexual abuse material. At Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Eoin Garavan noted Morrison's high risk of reoffending and stated he posed a grave danger to children. The judge emphasised the severity of Morrison's conduct in recording the abuse for his own gratification. Gardaí recovered mobile phones and a laptop containing hundreds of images and videos of child sexual abuse. Morrison, who operated dance schools across Mayo and Galway, has been in custody since July 2024. His sentence was backdated to that date, and he was ordered to complete probation supervision, counselling, and a sexual offenders' programme following release.