Convicted sex offender is jailed for abuse of four siblings at his Donegal home
A CONVICTED sex offender, who acknowledged in a probation assessment that he "has an attraction to children", has been jailed for sexually abusing four siblings.
The 54-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been convicted of sexually abusing four siblings, two boy and two girls, when the children visited his family home in Donegal during their summer holidays.
The man pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to eight sample charges in relation to a boy including oral rape, anal rape and sexual assault on dates between 1999 and 2005, from the time one of the boys was six years of age.
The convicted further pleaded guilty to six sample counts of sexual assaults in relation to the boy's older brother, when this child was between eight and almost 14-years-old.
The man also pleaded guilty to sexual assaulting the boy’s older sisters, involving one sexual assault of one sister when she was 19 and two counts in relation to the other girl, when she was 14 and 18 years old in 1993 and 1997.
The convicted man has previously been jailed for 12 years, after he pleaded guilty to 194 counts of sexual assault that were carried out between 1984 and 2009.
These current offences came to light when the first complainant made a statement to the gardaí, and the other siblings came forward with their disclosures.
Mr Justice David Keane said he was “immensely impressed by the obvious courage and resilience” of the siblings, and said they had done themselves and their families great credit with the “great dignity” they have shown in their dealing with the justice process.
He said the offences represented “a significant breach of trust”, as the convicted man had effectively been in a position of a step-uncle. The convicted was the brother of the four children’s step-father.
One of the male victims said that the accused was “liked by all who knew him” but said he was scared, especially when he was alone with the accused.
Another victim, female, said it was “very difficult” on her family and that they are afraid to speak about what happened. She described having “a mental block of speaking to [her] siblings”.
“I blame him from breaking up relationships in our family. I hope our family can move on together once this is over,” the woman concluded.
Garnet Orange SC defending told the court that his client accepts that he can’t continue to live in Donegal once released from prison.
Counsel accepted that the offences were “very traumatic and appalling” and that the two brothers had been abused on an ongoing basis.
Mr Orange said that his client acknowledges that he has an attraction to children and accepts that he can have no further direct or indirect contact with the victims in the case.