82-year-old man jailed for raping his daughter in 'an appalling regime of abuse'
Marie Murphy (centre) with family leaving Cork District Court after the sentencing of Edward Molyneaux. Picture: Larry Cummins
An 82-year-old man who raped his daughter in “an appalling regime of abuse” over a period of eight years was sentenced to 15 years in jail as the judge found that even at this late stage he had shown no remorse.
Edward Molyneaux of Kilshenane, Listowel, County Kerry, was convicted by the unanimous decision of a jury of raping and indecently assaulting his daughter Marie Murphy from the age of 12, at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork.
Ms Justice Siobhán Lankford said that even now after making admissions to gardaí, Edward Molyneaux contested the case and refused to acknowledge the guilty verdicts against him. The judge acknowledged defence submissions that in light of his age and health issues he may die in prison if a long sentence was imposed but she said 15 years was merited.
“Had he pleaded guilty it would have spared his daughter the huge trauma of a trial,” Judge Lankford said.
The judge agreed with the Director of Public Prosecutions' view that the sentencing should be somewhere between 15 years and life imprisonment because of factors including the period over which the rapes and other assaults were carried out, the serious breach of trust and the unusual level of degradation involved.
As the judge put Edward Molyneaux’s name on the sex offenders register for life she said that because of the absence of remorse she saw no prospect of rehabilitation.
When prosecution senior counsel Ray Boland expressed the DPP view on sentencing, defence senior counsel Barry White complained that the view was “morally wrong and judicially wrong”.
Even though the abuse was effectively admitted by the accused man when he was interviewed by Sergeant Trevor Ryan who led the investigation, the 82-year-old man pleaded not guilty to all of the charges against him.
At interview three years ago it was put to him: “You groomed her from when she was a child. She probably thought that what was happening was normal. You stole her childhood.” Mr Molyneaux replied at that time:
He denied all charges at trial. But on all counts on which the jury deliberated they were unanimous in finding him guilty. They consisted of 61 counts of rape, three counts of indecent assault, and two charges of assault causing harm.
In respect of the physical harm, Mrs Murphy, aged 59, recalled that as a child of around 12 her father beat her with a large leather strap and broke a chair over her head.
Ms Justice Lankford thanked Mrs Murphy – who worked for many years as a mental health nurse and later worked with vulnerable young people - for her powerful victim impact evidence.
In her victim impact evidence she said:
“I was let down by many during my childhood from family and outside agencies. All the signs were there, you only needed to look a little closer, that I was at high risk. But no one dared to approach you (her father) on any topic, due to the ramifications – the violence displayed at the drop of a hat.
“I’ve allowed to live your life. Now it’s time to set me free, to rebuild my life, to recover from the harm you inflicted on me. These are different times. No more secrets. Speak the truth and you will be heard and you be believed. There is hope and there is help that others can guide you through the dark times and guide you into the light. Be brave, reach out, for just one more time. If you’re experiencing any form of abuse it stops right now. Just take that one step to freedom and recovery.”
The injured party thanked gardaí, lawyers, health professionals, counsellors and rape crisis centres.
Through Mr Boland Mrs Murphy indicated that she was waiving her right to anonymity so that Edward Molyneaux can be named in coverage of this case.
- If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please click here for a list of support services.
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