A 69-year-old man has been sentenced to eight years in prison for engaging in sexual acts with his adult daughter, who has a moderate intellectual disability. The offences occurred in Leinster on February 7, 2023. The accused, whose identity is withheld for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to two counts of engaging in a sexual act with a protected person before the Central Criminal Court.
Delivering the sentence on Tuesday, Mr Justice Paul McDermott described the crimes as a "profound betrayal," stating, “As a father, he betrayed her.” He emphasized the gravity of the offence, noting that it carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. “These offences were committed by her father – he could do whatever he liked,” the judge remarked.
The court imposed a sentence of nine years' imprisonment, suspending the final year for a period of two years. The defendant will also be supervised by the Probation Services for five years and must undertake any recommended rehabilitative courses. Additionally, he is barred from contacting his daughter without her informed consent and only under strict supervision. The sentence was backdated to reflect the time already served in custody.
During an earlier hearing, the court was told that the victim, who is in her mid-30s, now resides in a residential care facility. An investigating Garda reported that the woman disclosed the abuse during a sexuality education session, revealing that she had never shared a bed with a man other than her father and that he had not used protection.
Following this disclosure, specialist Garda interviewers became involved, and the woman was moved into protective care. The court heard that the man had no prior criminal history and had assumed full-time care of his daughter after the death of his wife several years ago.
A social worker described the victim as a kind and emotionally resilient individual who has strong independent living skills. However, she confirmed that the abuse has had a lasting impact on the woman's daily life, and noted that she has yet to engage in formal counselling.
The prosecution acknowledged that the man’s guilty plea, entered ahead of a scheduled trial, spared the victim the trauma of testifying in court.
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