Albert Charles Marc Cronin pleads guilty to rape, indecent treatment of girls

A South East Queensland man has been jailed after pleading guilty to 11 charges relating to the rape and sexual molestation of three young girls.

A 42-year-old Monkland man has been jailed until 2025 for raping and sexually abusing three young girls over a prolonged period.

Albert Charles Marc Cronin pleaded guilty to 11 charges stemming from the abuse, including three counts of rape.

Gympie District Court heard Cronin molested the girls over a two-year period.

The oldest victim, aged in her early teens at the time, was subject to “simulated intercourse” from Cronin up to twice a week. On two occasions he digitally raped her and once she was forced to perform oral sex.

The younger girls were subjected to repeated touching and poking, the court heard.

The court was told a psychological report on Cronin, who had never held a regular job, had been on the disability pension since he was 16 and could not read or write, found he had an IQ between 69-81.

Albert Charles Marc Cronin pleaded guilty to charges including three counts of rape, and was jailed until at least 2025.

This left him on the borderline of intellectual disability, it heard.

He had been diagnosed bipolar, appeared to have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and had been addicted to alcohol for most of his adult life

Cronin was a heavy user of marijuana, and had dabbled with ice and speed but never been addicted to them.

Judge Glen Cash said that while the intellectual impairment meant Cronin was “not fully aware of the harm (he was) causing … we will not tolerate people who prey on young girls”.

He sentenced Cronin to nine years jail, and ineligible for parole until May 8, 2025, when Cronin had served three-and-a-half years of his sentence.