A father who subjected to his son to a litany of rape and sexual assault has been sentenced to 14 years in jail, with the final 18 months suspended.
The man (52), who cannot be named to protect the identity of his victim, was convicted last month at the Central Criminal Court on 47 charges relating to the sexual abuse of his son over a three year period up to 2004.
Passing sentence, Mr Justice Barry White told the man his crimes were "made all the more reprehensible because of the position you enjoyed in the family". He also described the man's actions as "an appalling breach of trust".
During the trial last month the court was told how the boy was sexually assaulted and raped both orally and anally while he was aged between 12 and 15 years old. He is now 20.
The man was found guilty by a jury of 11 charges of anal rape, 12 charges of oral rape and 24 charges of sexual assault of the boy on dates between April 11th, 2001, and June 23rd, 2004, when the boy was removed from the home following allegations by his sister that he had raped her. He was taken into foster care and three months later revealed the abuse by his father.
Mr Justice White said while a life sentence “would not have been inappropriate” in this case, he was of the view that a determinate sentence was more satisfactory from the victim’s and the accused person’s point of view.
He jailed the man for 14 years, with the final 18 months suspended, on each count of anal rape, for 10 years on each count of oral rape and for three years on each count of sexual assault. All sentences are to run concurrently.
While he said he had taken into account the man’s previous lack of convictions, he said the man had “shown no remorse, proffered no apology and was in denial as regards his offensive behaviour.”
The victim in the case spoke briefly to reporters after the sentencing, saying he was "happy enough" with it.
"It was a difficult process for everyone," he said. "I want to thank the jury, the barristers, Garda John Hynes, neighbours and friends. It's all over now and I can get on with my life."
Asked about the reaction of the rest of the family, he said: "My brother is happy enough. I haven't spoken to the others."
Asked if he was worried the forthcoming Health Service Executive (HSE) report into how the family was dealt with by the social services he said: "I hope it will help other children."
In the court, the judge described the son’s victim impact statement as poignant and said while there were other matters regarding family life outlined in it “that would appal any right thinking person”, those could not be visited upon the accused in relation to this case.
The man’s wife, who gave evidence against her husband, is serving a seven year sentence for incest with another son and for the neglect of the couple’s six children.
The outcome of the HSE-commissioned inquiry under the chairmanship of Norah Gibbons of Barnardos into the handling of the case by the social services of the six children who were neglected and abused by their parents over a 15-year period is set to be published.
During the man’s trial the court heard that the family was first brought to the attention of the social services in 1989. In 2000 an injunction was granted to the mother in the High Court preventing the health board from taking the children from her. It was 2004 before the children were taken into care.