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'I'm here to stop him hurting other little girls': man who abused cousin went on to abuse daughter 25 years later

Date
2026-03-10
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Dublin
County
Dublin

Summary

A 55-year-old Dublin man was sentenced to four years in prison after a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury found him guilty of two sexual offences committed 25 years apart. The defendant, who maintains his innocence, was convicted of indecently assaulting his younger cousin at a Dublin address between February 1987 and February 1990, and sexually assaulting his 16-year-old daughter during a holiday in Florida in June 2014. Judge Jonathan Dunphy noted the striking similarities between the incidents, including the victims' vulnerability and the defendant's intimidating behavior. For the first offence, the judge set a headline sentence of four years, reduced to two years because the defendant was under 18 for part of the period. He suspended the final nine months on conditions, including sexual offence-focused work. For the second offence, the headline sentence of five years was reduced to four years, with the final 15 months suspended on similar conditions. The sentences were ordered to run consecutively, resulting in an effective custody term of four years. The court also imposed a condition prohibiting any contact with either victim. The judge praised the complainants for their courage, while the defendant's counsel noted his lack of remorse and previous employment history.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'I'm here to stop him hurting other little girls': man who abused cousin went on to abuse daughter 25 years later. Charges or matters: one count of indecently assaulting his younger cousin at an address in Dublin on a date between February 1987 and February 1990. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Found guilty

When:

Case subjects

Unnamed 55-year-old

Convicted Person

Charges: one count of indecently assaulting his younger cousin at an address in Dublin on a date between February 1987 and February 1990 (Proven)

Finding: Found guilty

Outcome: Found guilty; A man who sexually abused his daughter and his young cousin in two separate incidents 25 years apart has been jailed for four years. He said this change meant the man was aged under 18 for part of this time period and as such, had to be sentenced as a child.

Places mentioned

Incident
Court Venue
  • Dublin
  • Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Secondary Mention

Topics

Stage Sentence

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