Courts / Donegal / Report

"Predator" father (78) jailed for repeated rape of daughter

Date
2018-06-18
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Donegal
County
Donegal

Summary

A 78-year-old man has been sentenced to four years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court following his guilty plea to five sample charges of rape. The offences occurred between 1973 and 1974 at a family home in County Mayo, perpetrated against his daughter when she was between nine and twelve years old. The woman, now 54, reported the abuse to gardaĆ­ in 2015 after decades of silence. In her victim impact statement, she described how the repeated assaults had damaged her relationships and caused lasting trauma. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy imposed the sentence, noting it was substantially reduced from what would otherwise have been imposed due to the accused's advanced age and poor health. The judge acknowledged the depravity inherent in such offences whilst balancing mitigating factors including the man's immediate admission and remorse upon arrest. The sentence was backdated to May when he entered custody.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: "Predator" father (78) jailed for repeated rape of daughter. Charges or matters: five sample charges of carnal knowledge without the girl's consent on dates between July 1973 and November 1974 at the family home in Co Mayo. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

Case subjects

Unnamed 78-year-old

Convicted Person

Charges: five sample charges of carnal knowledge without the girl's consent on dates between July 1973 and November 1974 at the family home in Co Mayo (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: By Sonya McLean and Fiona Ferguson A 78-year-old man who regularly raped his daughter while her mother was at work has been jailed for four years. Mr Justice McCarthy imposed a four-year sentence, which he backdated to May when the man first went into custody.

Places mentioned

Court Venue
  • Central Criminal Court
Secondary Mention

Topics

Stage Sentence

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