Former Dublin fireman jailed following sexual relationship with underage girl

A 57-year-old former fireman, with a previously unblemished record, has been jailed for seven years with two suspended after being found guilty of having sex with an underage girl.

It is understood that Ron Tulie, with an address in Pinevalley Park Rathfarnham, first met the teenage girl while teaching a first aid and fire safety course in 2008.

The court heard that the girl, who was 16-years-old at the time, believed herself to be in love with the married father-of-four and consented to sex on five occasions between June 1st and July 27th of the same year.

It has been established that Mr. Tulie maintained contact with the girl via email following the course, but the relationship turned physical soon after before ultimately coming to an end in 2009.

Upon hearing rumours regarding the teenager's relationship with Mr.Tulie, the girl's school principal contacted the HSE who informed the Gardaí of the reports.

Commenting on the case, Judge Hogan said: "He was taking advantage of his maturity over her youth and innocence. I don't accept that it lessened the crime that there was no objection from her. The abuse of trust was very, very severe."

Mr. Tulie, who will now be registered as a sex offender, held his head in his hands and wept as he learned of his sentence today.