Co Galway ballet teacher jailed for child sexual abuse in Mayo - Long Read

A ballet teacher from County Galway has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment, with the final year suspended, following his conviction for sexually assaulting two young girls at a dance school in County Mayo. Leighton Morrison, aged 49, of Tuam, pleaded guilty to six sample charges from thirteen offences committed between January 2023 and June 2024. At Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court, he was convicted of sexual assault against children aged eight and nine, child exploitation, and possession and production of child sexual abuse material. The court heard Morrison filmed himself committing the assaults in a costume storage room used by his dance schools. Judge Eoin Garavan stated Morrison posed a grave danger to children and would never have unsupervised access to them. The victims' mothers delivered impact statements describing severe trauma and long-term psychological effects on their daughters. Morrison, remanded in custody since July 2024, must complete a sex offenders' programme and undergo probation supervision for one year following release.