Court jails man for raping daughter and niece
A Louth man who abused his daughter and niece when they were aged four and ten has been jailed for 10 years by Mr Justice Paul Carney at the Central Criminal Court.
The 49-year-old man, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to four sample counts of oral rape and five sample counts of sexual assault on dates between 1995 and 1997.
Sergeant Anthony Flynn told prosecuting counsel, Mr Vincent Heneghan BL, that the abuse came to light when the man's niece told her mother about an incident which happened while staying with her cousins.
She was sleeping on a mattress on the floor of her cousins' room when her uncle came in to check on them. He told her he enjoyed it when she came to stay as she was "great fun" and started to tickle her stomach. He then put his hand down her nightdress and began to touch her.
After the girl came forward about the incident, her cousin made a statement to say her father had abused her for over two years between the ages of four and seven.
Sgt Flynn said the abuse began while the girl's mother was in hospital having a baby. Her father got into bed with her and started to touch and feel her.
After about five minutes he brought her into his bedroom and put her into the bed where he made her masturbate him and perform oral sex on him and then also performed oral sex on her.
After this occassion her father would do the same every time her mother was away from the house over night. This would be every bank holiday weekend.
Mr Justice Carney sentenced him to 10 years for each of the counts of rape and five years for each of the sexual assault counts with all sentences to run concurently. He also ordered he is to undergo two years post-release supervision.
He said that the recommended sentence for a crime in this category would have been five to eight years but he considered this unduly lenient.
He granted defence counsel, Mr Derek Kenneally SC, a certificate of leave to appeal the sentence on these grounds.
