79-year-old jailed for seven years for sexual abuse of granddaughters

A 79-year-old Dublin man has been sentenced to seven years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for sexually abusing his two granddaughters over a fourteen-year period. He pleaded guilty to eleven counts of sexual abuse occurring between 2006 and 2020 at properties in Dublin and Cavan. The offences involved the older girl, who was between three and twelve years old, and her younger sister, aged five to eight during the abuse. The defendant initially denied the charges and only entered a guilty plea on the second day of trial after a jury was sworn. The abuse came to light in 2020 when the younger girl disclosed the matter to her school teacher. Judge Elva Duffy imposed consecutive sentences of three years and four years respectively. She commended the complainants and their mother for their bravery throughout proceedings. The judge noted the serious breach of trust and the significant impact on the victims' physical and mental health.