A judge has jailed a man for 13 years suspending the final 12 months for sexually abusing his young child in a number of locations including Co Monaghan.
Mr Justice Paul McDermott handing down the sentence described the man's actions as the "most vile, confusing, terrifying" behaviour.
The Central Criminal Court previously heard gardai recovered a draft letter by the man to Tusla in which he acknowledged some of the abuse and said he'd studied paedophilia. The court also heard that the man was separately convicted in 2023 of breaching court orders after he posted online describing sexual acts with the victim, implying they were consensual. The 41-year-old man pleaded guilty to 11 sample counts including nine of sexual assault, one of rape and one of oral rape.
The offending took place between 2016 and 2018 at locations in Monaghan, Waterford and Portugal. The victim was between nine and 11 years old at the time. Today, the man received a 13 year sentence with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions.
The abuse started with open-mouthed kissing and included inappropriate touching and forced masturbation. He also showed the girl pornography. The abuse escalated after the family moved to Portugal. The girl's mother walked in while her husband was abusing their daughter. After this, she spoke to the girl, who outlined further abuse. The family later returned to Ireland, where the abuse continued. The mother made a disclosure to a counsellor, who then notified Tusla. The court heard the man has a number of convictions, which post-date these incidents, and relate to breaches of court orders.
The Central Criminal Court heard he was on bail for this sexual offending when he posted online in 2023 describing a sexual act between him and the victim. In an impact statement, the now 18-year-old said speaking about the abuse could be "painful" as they feel their body "tighten up" and freeze.
The statement outlined feelings of anxiety, and a lack of self-worth and self-esteem. The victim said they push away negative feelings and memories, trying to convince themselves the abuse didn't happen.
Imposing sentence today, Mr Justice Paul McDermott said the impact statement was a "testament" of the difficult journey the victim has had to make and will continue with into the future. The judge said the statement also indicated the "physical and mental burden and toll" of telling this "appalling story".
He also noted that the victim was "defenceless and vulnerable". The judge said the parent-child relationship was also an aggravating factor, noting that the victim was abused by a person from "whom she was entitled to expect the greatest care, nurturing and respect".
He said the victim faced the "most vile, confusing, terrifying behaviour by a father who did whatever he wanted to her when he wanted" and the man had violated the trust of his child, wife and of society.
