A Dublin man has been sentenced to five and a half years in prison for sexually abusing his younger sister over several years when he was a teenager. The court heard that the 53-year-old perpetrator committed the offences between 1987 and 1991, forcing his sister to perform acts of sexual nature and touch him inappropriately. The victim's powerful impact statement revealed the devastating and long-lasting consequences of the abuse, highlighting the shattered childhood and ongoing emotional struggles she faces.
A Dublin man who sexually abused his younger sister over several years while he was a teenager has been sentenced to five and a half years in prison. The Central Criminal Court heard that the 53-year-old man committed the offences between January 1987 and August 1991, when his victim was aged around seven. He pleaded guilty to nine sample counts, including indecent assault and two of oral rape. The abuse took place in various locations, including his bedroom, a laneway, and a field in Co.
Dublin. The man, who cannot be named to protect the victim's anonymity, forced his sister to perform oral sex and touch him inappropriately. Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed a global sentence of six years and six months, with the final 12 months suspended for two years on strict conditions. The judge acknowledged the seriousness of the offences, stating that the man knew what he was doing was wrong and committed the acts in secrecy. He noted that the abuse was repeated so often it became a dominating feature of the girl's life. The judge also considered the man's personal circumstances, mitigation, and his age at the time of the offending when constructing the sentence. The victim's impact statement revealed the devastating and long-lasting effects of the abuse. She said her brother destroyed her childhood, took her innocence, and groomed her to ignore the abuse and see him as a loving and caring sibling. She described the immense pain and shame she felt, the impact on her relationships, and the difficulty of keeping such a secret for so many years. She also spoke of the nightmares, flashbacks, and struggles with alcohol and anger that stemmed from the abuse. Despite the trauma, she bravely stated that she was free from the control her brother exerted over her for so many years. The court heard that the victim reported some details of the abuse to gardaí in 1995, but was unable to disclose the full extent at that time due to fear of her father's reaction. She eventually made a formal complaint to gardaí in 2018. The man initially denied the allegations but entered guilty pleas shortly before his case was due to go to trial. His defence counsel emphasized his client's remorse and acknowledged the gravity of his actions. Mr Justice McDermott acknowledged the significant impact the abuse had on the victim and stated that abuse by a sibling can be particularly damaging due to the betrayal, trauma, and disruption to family life. He commended the victim for her courage in coming forward and emphasized the exceptional strength and resilience required to report family-related offences
Sexual Abuse Childhood Trauma Family Abuse Criminal Sentencing Dublin
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Man jailed for 15 years for raping daughter on weekly basis for about 10 yearsEdward Molyneaux told Gardaí he had sex with his daughter “about once a week”
Read more »
‘He has broken me twice’: Former garda jailed for six years for sexually assaulting woman at Garda stationWilliam Ryan (41) jailed for six years over offending at Aughrim Garda station in September 2020
Read more »
Man Jailed for Three Years for Biting Part of Man's Ear Off in Luas BrawlA 25-year-old man has been sentenced to three years in prison for biting off part of a man's ear during a fight on a Luas tram in Dublin four years ago. CCTV footage of the incident was shown in court. The brawl took place between the George's Dock and Busáras stops, leading to the tram being taken out of service. The injured party, who is not being named, boarded the tram and punched Cunningham, sparking the altercation. Judge Martin Nolan described the act as 'savage' and stated that while Cunningham didn't initiate the attack, biting off part of a man's ear was a 'pretty savage thing to do'.
Read more »
Man Jailed for Three Years After Biting Off Part of Passenger's Ear in Luas BrawlA 25-year-old man has been jailed for three years for biting part of a man’s ear off during a brawl on the Luas four years ago. CCTV footage of the incident, which was widely publicised at the time, was shown to court. The brawl took place on a Luas between the George’s Dock and Busáras stops. The tram had to be taken out of service because of the nature of the incident.
Read more »
Woman Jailed for Three Years for Dublin City Centre RobberyJoanne Cuffe (45) was sentenced for her role in a robbery where she and an unidentified accomplice threatened two young women with 'dirty needles' and stole their purse.
Read more »
Irish Defence Forces member jailed for over 8 years for rape of fellow soldierThe judge said the woman had “always been very frank” that the background to the rape was clearly consensual
Read more »