Courts / Ireland / Report
Father who led 'campaign' of rape and sexual abuse against daughter from age of 3 gets 11.5 years
2023-12-04
Sentence
Summary
A 51‑year‑old man was sentenced to 11 years and nine months in prison, with a three‑month suspended portion, for a series of sexual and physical abuses against his four daughters. The court heard that the defendant subjected his eldest daughter, now 17, to a "campaign of sexual abuse" from age three to thirteen, including sexual assault, oral rape and child cruelty, and that he also pleaded guilty to child cruelty against each of his other daughters, aged 25, 22 and 15. The abuse took place in the family home in the south‑east of the country. The judge noted the victims' bravery in coming forward and the severe harm inflicted, but also considered mitigating factors such as the defendant's guilty plea, remorse, cooperation with investigators and lack of prior convictions.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Father who led 'campaign' of rape and sexual abuse against daughter from age of 3 gets 11.5 years. Charges or matters: sample charges of sexual assault, oral rape, inviting a child to engage in sexual touching, assault causing harm and child cruelty to his third eldest daughter on dates between April 2011 and December 2019; three charges of child cruelty against each of his three other daughters. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- April 2011 Incident
- December 2019 Incident
- September 2021 Incident
- 2023-12-04 Publication
Why: The judge noted that the man has both medical and mental health difficulties and a report outlined that the man had said he didn't want to die or take his own life because "he wanted his daughters to have the justice they deserved". CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: sample charges of sexual assault, oral rape, inviting a child to engage in sexual touching, assault causing harm and child cruelty to his third eldest daughter on dates between April 2011 and December 2019; three charges of child cruelty against each of his three other daughters (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: A child rapist who subjected his daughter to "a campaign of sexual abuse" from the age of three has been jailed for 11 and a half years. Mr Justice McGrath said taking into account the mitigating factors, he would reduce the headline sentence and imposed a sentence of 11 years and nine months.
Topics
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