Former solider has jail time cut for abusing girls

A former soldier from Ballyhaise, County Cavan, has had the final year of his 15-year prison sentence suspended by the Court of Appeal. Shane Costello, aged 50, was convicted of raping and sexually assaulting three young girls over a decade, including his stepdaughter, who was aged 13 to 14 at the time of the offences in 2012. He had denied the rape charges but pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting two other children between 2001 and 2013. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, found the offending grave and noted Costello had abused his position of trust as a father figure. The court re-sentenced him to 14 years and six months imprisonment, with three years post-release supervision imposed. Costello is required to enter into a good behaviour bond for the suspended period.