Sentencing adjourned for man who repeatedly sexually abused his two young nieces

Sentencing of a man who sexually abused his two nieces — repeatedly assaulting one of them sexually for three to four years from when she was aged eight — has been adjourned until January 23.

Considerable difficulties in having a psychiatric report completed on the accused man before sentencing have finally been overcome, it was indicated by defence solicitor Shane Collins-Daly to Ms Justice Siobhán Lankford at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork.

On that basis, the judge remanded the accused man in custody for sentencing on January 23 2026.

Detective Garda Tom Delaney testified at an earlier hearing that the injured party was at school in September 2022, when a pop song was played as part of one of the classes.

The song reminded the teenager of years of sexual abuse that she suffered at the hands of her uncle in the family home.

She became very upset and, as she was being comforted by a teacher, she revealed for the first time that the abuse had occurred.

The school alerted the child’s mother.

Ultimately, the defendant was approached about the allegations.

He admitted the sexual abuse, and he was subsequently removed from the family home.

On investigation with specialist interviewers, it was established that the sexual abuse occurred from when she was aged from eight to 11 or 12.

It later emerged that her sister was also abused, and there was one charge related to her when she was aged four.

The accused man was aged from 21 to 26 when the abuse was carried out, and he pleaded guilty to 10 charges in relation to one niece and one count in relation to the second girl who was only four at the time.

Prosecution senior counsel Jane Hyland said that while all 11 counts were of sexual assault, and none of rape, the defence had accepted that the full facts of the case would be outlined and this included the description of rape of both children, albeit without any rape charge or admission.

One young woman described at a hearing two months ago how her life has been reduced to sadness, fear, and pain because of the sexual abuse that her uncle carried out on her from when she was aged eight.

Her younger sister, who was also abused, said she cannot cope with “quietness” at home as it reminds her of the abuse, adding that she has to pace the floor and turn on music to avoid the silence.

The victim of the 10 counts testified: “I am living in fear all the time.

“I am scared to be around people.

“Sometimes, when I get flashbacks, I feel I am always looking over my shoulder, I burst into tears, and I am so afraid to go anywhere.

“Fear and memories of the abuse are holding me back from living my life,” the victim told the court.

Her sister said: “I was afraid of him [her accused uncle] all the time after that.

“I was having flashbacks , and my mind and my heart hurts because of what happened to me.”

Senior counsel Tom Creed said the accused was full of remorse, adding that he had written a letter of apology to his two nieces.

Mr Creed said the defendant, who is now aged 34, was admitted to a psychiatric hospital when the complaint was first made.