A Goldman Sachs banker was fired last month after his superiors learned that he had pleaded guilty in February to sexually assaulting his niece multiple times over a period of several years, beginning in 2004.
Ronan O’Grady, 33, who has worked as a personal wealth adviser at Goldman’s London office since 2017, was sentenced to two years in prison late last month for sexually abusing his niece, who was 13 when she was six. According to the Financial Times.
O’Grady pleaded guilty to eight counts of sexual assault.
His niece, Keeley O’Grady, said her uncle engaged in inappropriate behaviour, forced her to perform oral sex and showed her pornography. This was reported by the Irish news agency RTE.
On at least one occasion, a friend of Ronan O’Grady hid in a closet and recorded the assaults on his cell phone at the girls’ grandparents’ home in County Offaly, west of Dublin, Ireland.
Ronan O’Grady, who has no previous convictions, was given a two-year sentence after the judge took into account the fact that he was between 13 and 17 years old at the time of the assaults.
He pleaded guilty in February and was sentenced last month, but continued to work at Goldman without telling his bosses about his legal troubles, the investment bank said.
“Mr. O’Grady concealed this criminal proceeding from the firm until June 2024, despite being required to disclose it,” Goldman Sachs spokesman Tony Fratto told The Washington Post.
“His employment was terminated within days of us finding out.”
Flatt added that Goldman’s management was “shocked to learn of Mr. O’Grady’s horrific past crimes” and that “he is no longer employed by the firm.”
“Our hearts go out to the victims.”
The crimes to which O’Grady pleaded guilty were committed between 2004 and 2008.
According to RTE, when 26-year-old Keeley O’Grady turned 18, she contacted her uncle on social media to confront him about his actions.
“I remember too. Hope you’re OK,” Ronan O’Grady wrote back to his niece, adding that he was “young and stupid” at the time.
Despite his social media messages to his niece, Ronan O’Grady continued to maintain his innocence until his trial began. He eventually pleaded guilty in February.
Keeley O’Grady gave an impact statement saying she suffered depression, severe anxiety and suicidal thoughts as a result of the abuse.
