Courts / Ireland / Report
Father raped special needs daughter while mother lay dying in hospital
Summary
A 66‑year‑old man from Munster was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment, with one year suspended, for raping his adult special‑needs daughter twice in 2016 while her mother was terminally ill in hospital. The judge described the offences as an egregious breach of trust, noting the daughter's vulnerability and the aggravating factor of the mother's illness. The defendant pleaded guilty, which the court considered mitigating, and he expressed remorse and apologized to his daughter. He was ordered to participate in the Better Lives Programme and to have no contact with his daughter during the suspended year, except under supervision. Social services will issue a care order for the daughter, and the judge extended best wishes to her, acknowledging her continued bond with her father and the pain she endured. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the crime and the defendant's background of childhood neglect and abuse.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Father raped special needs daughter while mother lay dying in hospital. Charges or matters: the rape and sexual assault of his daughter on two dates during one week in 2016. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- 2019-11-11 Publication
Why: The 66-year-old Munster man, who cannot be identified in order to protect his daughter's identity, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to the rape and sexual assault of his daughter on two dates during one week in 2016. CNI source report
Case subjects
Accused
Charges: the rape and sexual assault of his daughter on two dates during one week in 2016 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: A father who raped his adult special needs daughter while her mother was terminally ill in hospital has been jailed for seven years. Mr Justice White set a headline sentence of 11 years and taking into account the mitigating circumstances imposed an eight year sentence.
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
Topics
Sexual Offences Stage Sentence
Help us improve this report
Your request is saved for the newsroom's next review. It does not immediately change the published report.
Prefer email? Send a correction request.