Man sexually assaulted his own children
The crimes happened at an address in County Waterford across multiple dates during the late-80’s and early 90’s.
A man in his 70’s has received a 30-month prison sentence for sexually assaulting his son and daughter. The crimes happened at an address in County Waterford across multiple dates during the late-80’s and early 90’s.
The man cannot be named to protect the identities of the victims.
He was found guilty on three counts of sexual assault after a trial in February. His son and daughter wrote compelling victim impact statements read out by investigating Detective Garda Seamus Halpin. The son, now in his 40’s, wrote: “I knew growing up my family situation was not like any of my friend’s home lives. I knew from about the age of 12 the first chance I got I would leave and never come back.”
He stated how his father tried to downplay the abuse by impugning that his mother did 'most of the physical abuse': "When you’re a child and a fully grown man frothing at the mouth like an animal is shouting at you as he is about to start beating you, that burns in your memory just as much as everything else he did."
The man described how their traumatic childhood has impacted his life, causing him to have low-esteem and many sleepless nights. He noted his relief that the trial had ended and the discomfort of seeing his father shaking his head and laughing throughout the proceedings.
The woman outlined how her upbringing has affected her life: "The chaos of my childhood - the daily battles, the moods, the drinking, the fighting, the hospital stays - shaped a life marked by crippling anxiety that has only intensified through these court proceedings."
She described being plagued with suicidal thoughts after learning about the abuse suffered by her brother. She wrote that before the trial she was not aware of the extent of abuse he had suffered: "Knowing my little brother suffered in that way broke something fundamental in me."
She also described being ostracised by the larger family after speaking out about the abuse, even as far as being excluded from her mother's obituary notice: "Another erasure, another wound reinforcing the message that telling the truth carried punishment."
At the sentencing, the defendant continued to deny any wrongdoing and did not express any remorse.
Judge Eugene O'Kelly passed a sentence of 10 months for the count of sexual assault against the man's daughter, and 20 months for the two counts of sexual assault towards his son, to be served consecutively.
