The 48-year-old defendant went on trial in the Central Criminal Court at the end of last month, accused of two counts of raping his then wife, two counts of child cruelty and one count of assault causing harm to his now 24-year-old daughter and one count of child cruelty against his now 17-year-old daughter.

Lawyers for the parents, who cannot be identified to protect the identity of the child, said examinations of the child since their first trial have proven that the girl was not subjected to FGM at all.

She was convicted and sentenced to three months on both counts, fully suspended for a period of two years

The Central Criminal Court heard that the man was in a relationship with the mother of the children and was the biological father of the younger two children.

The judge highlighted that there was a "callousness" in how the child was treated by his father

David Daly (37), of Castle Park, Dooradoyle, Limerick, was described in court as a cruel and 'evil' man who beat and ridiculed three children

Imposing a six-year sentence on Thursday, Mr Justice David Keane said the facts of this case were “heartbreaking and deeply disturbing”.