Roscommon father jailed for sexual assault of daughter

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Judge Martin Nolan gave a 59-year-old Roscommon man a two-year prison sentence for sexually assaulting his five-year-old daughter, suspending all but six months.

The proceedings were reported on 16 March 2015.

He pleaded guilty to sexual assault at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The abuse occurred in the family's Roscommon home between July 2004 and July 2006.

The judge took account of his admission of guilt, his remorse and his severe medical condition when deciding the sentence.

The court heard that the child's mother had provided a neighbour with access to her for sexual abuse. For sexual assault, sexual exploitation and child cruelty, the mother was serving a 14-year prison term, of which four and a half years were suspended. A separate 14-year sentence had been imposed on the neighbour for sexual offences against the girl, including rape.

Defence counsel Paul Greene SC said the father had played no part in the more serious abuse organised by the mother. Counsel said his client feared her and described the family setting as chaotic and dysfunctional.