Grandfather gets 9 years for rape, sexual abuse

A 72-year-old south Dublin man who raped his wife and three daughters and sexually abused two granddaughters has been sentenced…

A 72-year-old south Dublin man who raped his wife and three daughters and sexually abused two granddaughters has been sentenced to nine years by Mr Justice O Caoimh at the Central Criminal Court.

He was convicted by a jury in October of 11 charges involving one daughter after a four-day trial.

These rapes happened between 1978 and 1986. He later pleaded guilty to 19 further sample charges involving the others.

One of the victims asked the court to give the defendant a life sentence, but Mr Justice O Caoimh said he was restrained from doing so by a decision of the Court of Criminal Appeal. This laid down that the defendant's age and health had to be taken into consideration in sentencing.