*Content warning: This article contains details of sexual abuse.*
He has been jailed for 12 years for raping his daughter
A man who raped and molested his daughter for 16 years has been jailed for just 12 years, with 18 months suspended.
The 62-year-old started abusing his daughter when she was only 7-years-old.
He pleaded guilty to rape, oral rape, indecent assault, sexual assault, and aggravated sexual assault. The abuse took place between 1990 and 2006.
He attacked the young girl at their home in Dublin city.
The man cannot be identified to protect the woman’s identity.
Justice Paul McDermott said the abuse completely distorted his daughter’s childhood.
It humiliated, degraded, and traumatised her.
Justice McDermott said the father completely abused her trust and manipulated her for years.
Despite the years of abuse, the court heard the man’s wife and family stood by him. In a character reference, his son-in-law said he was a “fantastic father”.
The victim said she was made to feel “ashamed” for years.
She can’t believe her family can accept what he did to her.
She told her mother about the abuse in 2013. She said her mother responded to her text and said: “I can’t believe that happened. I love you loads, and fully support you.”
This was the only support her mother offered her, she claimed.
He set a headline sentence of 16 years for rape offenses. He set 7 years for sexual assault and 10 years for aggravated sexual assaults.
Justice Paul McDermott reduced the headline sentences due to the father’s guilty plea, remorse, and previously clear record.
The headline sentences were reduced to just 12 years for rape, 5 and a half for sexual assault, and 8 for the aggravated sexual assault of his daughter.
The judge said he was suspending the last 18 months in order to encourage rehabilitation.
This suspension is conditional on the man engaging in victim-focused programmes, having no unsupervised access to children and having no direct or indirect contact with the victim.
If you have been affected by any of the details of this article, you can contact Women’s Aid’s 24 hour helpline on 1800 341 900, the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre on 1800 77 8888, or Childline on 1800 66 66 66.
