A MAN who admitted to gardai sex offences on his nieces, which took place 27 years ago, has been directed by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to do 240 hours community service.
The 56 year old man from Dublin pleaded guilty to indecently assaulting the victims on two occasions at his home from 1968 to 1972. The victims are now in their mid 30s.
A female detective garda agreed with Mr Robert Sheehan, for the Chief State Solicitor's Office, that one of the women had not formed relationships with men because she was so affected by the incidents.
Her sister attributed problems with her child to the abuse. The court heard both the victims were receiving counselling.
Judge Kieran O'Connor said the victims had suffered terrible indignities" because of the assaults. But by his plea of guilty, the defendant had saved them the embarrassment of giving evidence in a trial and the courts accepted this meant a tremendous amount.
Judge O'Connor said the probation report recommended he impose community service and adjourn sentence to allow the defendant to attend treatment.
He imposed the maximum of 240 community service and adjourned the case on bail to January 28th 1997. The defendant is to abide by his probation officer's instructions and undergo therapy.
The detective said the defendant was an uncle by marriage of the victims. On one occasion he threatened to kill one of the victims if she told anyone.
Arguments about the incidents took place for more than 18 years and in 1994, the matter arose again during a visit by the victims to his home.
The man realised they were going to report the matter so he went to the gardai himself and confessed, the detective said.
Ms Marie Torrens, defending, said her client had himself been abused as a youth.