Courts / Galway / Report
'There was a time I loved him dearly' - sisters speak out about abuse by brother
Summary
A Galway man who sexually abused his three sisters when they were children pleaded guilty to rape and two indecent assaults. The victims described decades of trauma after the abuse became known, while Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed a global two-year sentence with the final six months suspended and post-release supervision.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'There was a time I loved him dearly' - sisters speak out about abuse by brother. Charges or matters: one count of rape of his youngest sister at the Galway family home on dates between January 1976 and December 1977, when she was aged between four and six; two counts of indecently assaulting his other sisters on dates between January 1973 and December 1975. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- January 1976 Incident
- December 1977 Incident
- January 1973 Other
- December 1975 Other
- 2026-03-26 Publication
Why: He said that he stopped raping his younger sister when she told him to stop because he "knew it should be something beautiful". CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: one count of rape of his youngest sister at the Galway family home on dates between January 1976 and December 1977, when she was aged between four and six; two counts of indecently assaulting his other sisters on dates between January 1973 and December 1975 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: By Isabel Hayes A man who sexually abused his three sisters 50 years ago when they were all children, raping the youngest when she was aged between four and six, has been jailed for 18 months. Mr Justice McDermott imposed a global two-year sentence with the final six months suspended on strict conditions.
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
Topics
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