Courts / Dublin / Report

'You have sentenced me to life in my own hellish prison': victim to rapist father

Date
2021-06-29
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Skerries
County
Dublin

Summary

In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Amanda Hamilton, aged 29, addressed her father, Paul Hamilton, 55, after he pleaded guilty to two counts of oral rape and four counts of sexual assault. Hamilton first abused Amanda when she was eight, orally raping her after showing her a magazine and telling her it was normal. The abuse continued for about two years, ending in 2002 when Amanda informed her mother, who then forced Hamilton to leave the family home. The case was investigated in 2019 after Amanda, now an adult, made a complaint. Justice Michael White sentenced Hamilton to eight years' imprisonment, suspending the final year on strict conditions. Amanda's victim impact statement described lifelong guilt, health problems, and her father's lack of remorse, while the court noted Hamilton's cooperation and lack of prior convictions as mitigating factors.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'You have sentenced me to life in my own hellish prison': victim to rapist father. Charges or matters: two counts of oral rape and four counts of sexual assault of his daughter at the family home in Skerries, Co Dublin, on unknown dates between October 10, 1999 and April 1, 2002. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

Case subjects

Unnamed accused

Accused

Charges: two counts of oral rape and four counts of sexual assault of his daughter at the family home in Skerries, Co Dublin, on unknown dates between October 10, 1999 and April 1, 2002 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: A woman who was orally raped and sexually abused by her father today addressed her abuser in court, telling him: "You have sentenced me to life in my own hellish prison". Passing sentence today, Mr Justice Michael White sentenced Hamilton to eight years imprisonment, but suspended the final year of the sentence on strict conditions.

Places mentioned

Court Venue
  • The Central Criminal Court
Residence

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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