Courts / Ireland / Report
Pensioner jailed for abuse of defenceless girls in 1990s
2024-04-23
Sentence
Summary
A pensioner in his early seventies was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for indecent assault and sexual assault against his daughter and niece in the early 1990s. The court found him guilty of four counts of indecent assault and 21 counts of sexual assault against his daughter, and four counts of indecent assault and eight counts of sexual assault against his niece. The abuse occurred in a Leinster house when the daughter was aged six to twelve and the niece aged eleven to twelve. The defendant maintains his innocence and had no prior convictions. Victim impact statements described lasting psychological harm, loss of self‑worth, anxiety, depression, nightmares and flashbacks. The judge imposed consecutive sentences of three and a half years for each victim, back‑dating the first to February 28, and noted the defendant's age, health and lack of prior convictions as mitigating factors. The total custodial term is seven years.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Pensioner jailed for abuse of defenceless girls in 1990s. Charges or matters: four counts of indecent assault and 21 counts of sexual assault against his daughter and four counts of indecent assault and eight counts of sexual assault against his niece dating back to the early 1990s. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Found guilty
When:
- July 2018 Incident
- February 28 Other
- 2024-04-23 Publication
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: four counts of indecent assault and 21 counts of sexual assault against his daughter and four counts of indecent assault and eight counts of sexual assault against his niece dating back to the early 1990s (Proven)
Finding: Found guilty
Outcome: Found guilty; By Claire Henry A pensioner who sexually assaulted his daughter and niece when they were "defenceless girls" 30 years ago has been jailed for seven years. She said the court would impose consecutive sentences to reflect "the gravity of offending" against these two "defenceless girls", who should have been able to rely on the man.
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