Courts / Dublin / Report
Laois father of seven is jailed for six years for sexual abuse and rape of his daughter
Summary
In July 2015, a Laois father of seven was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for raping and sexually abusing his daughter over a 30‑year period. The defendant pleaded guilty to two counts of rape and two counts of indecent assault committed between July 1981 and July 1987, when the victim was aged nine to 15. Judge Margaret Heneghan imposed a nine‑year sentence, suspended the final three years, and ordered the defendant's addition to the register of sex offenders. The victim, now 43, first reported the abuse to Gardaí in May 2013, after confronting her father months earlier. She described repeated molestation, forced sexual acts, and threats of violence, and stated that the abuse had profoundly damaged her life. The defendant showed remorse and accepted early guilty plea, which the judge considered in sentencing. The case was prosecuted by Will Fennelly BL.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Laois father of seven is jailed for six years for sexual abuse and rape of his daughter. Charges or matters: two counts of rape and two counts of indecent assault on dates between July 1981 and July 1987 when his daughter was aged between nine and 15 years old. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- July 1981 Incident
- July 1987 Incident
- May 2013 Incident
- June 2014 Incident
- April 2015 Other
- 2015-07-13 Publication
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: two counts of rape and two counts of indecent assault on dates between July 1981 and July 1987 when his daughter was aged between nine and 15 years old (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: A Laois father of seven has been jailed for six years for the continued sexual abuse and rape of his young daughter over 30 years ago. Describing the abuse as "vile acts perpetrated against an innocent child by her father," Judge Margaret Heneghan sentenced the man to nine years imprisonment and suspended the final three years.
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
Topics
Sexual Offences Stage Sentence Violent Crime
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