Firefighter and dad of four had sex with girl (16)
A former firefighter with an "unblemished" 30-year record with Dublin Fire Brigade will be sentenced later for having a sexual relationship with a child.
Ron Tulie (57) met his victim while teaching a first aid and fire-safety course in 2008, when she was 16. Garda Declan Sherlock revealed that the teenager, who felt she was in love with Tulie, suffered long-term psychological effects.
Tulie, a father-of-four of Pinevalley Park, Rathfarnham, pleaded guilty to four counts of having sexual intercourse with a child under 17 years at the Dublin Mountains between June 1 and July 27, 2008. He has no previous convictions.
Gda Sherlock told the prosecution that the girl's school principal heard rumours about the relationship after it had ended and alerted the HSE.
Gardai got involved and met with the victim, who revealed Tulie had given her and her two friends his email and Bebo addresses when the course ended.
The court heard the victim contacted Tulie within a week.
Tulie met with the girl and her friends a number of times between February and June 2008 and drove them to parks and other scenic areas.
Gda Sherlock said the relationship between Tulie and the girl had developed by June and on one occasion, he took her alone to the Dublin Mountains.
The then teenager recalled that Tulie had still been in his fireman's uniform when he had sex with her for a few seconds in the back seat. The young woman said she met Tulie for consensual sex about five times between June and July.
The victim told gardai she realised she was being used for sex when the relationship ended in early 2009.
Counsel said Tulie was very remorseful and understands what he has done to the victim and his own family.
Judge Hogan remanded Tulie in custody pending sentence in October.