Stepfather jailed for seven years for abuse of girl in family home

Fiona Ferguson

A man who told gardaí he had sexually abused his 14-year-old step-daughter “to boost her confidence” has been jailed for seven years.

The now 20-year-old woman told the Central Criminal Court she felt she had no option but to leave home to find peace and safety and had to leave school early to move away.

She said she has been left suffering severe anxiety, stress and fear due to her stepfather’s actions.

The 72-year-old man, who cannot be named to protect the woman’s identity, pleaded guilty to one count of rape, two counts of oral rape and three counts of sexual assault on dates between December 2020 and January 2021. He has no previous convictions.

Passing sentence on Friday, Judge Patrick McGrath said after disclosures were made the defendant made substantial submissions during his garda interview. He also entered very early guilty pleas.

McGrath said he heard a very powerful victim impact statement in which the injured party described the effects this has had on her growing up.

The judge said the aggravating factors in this case were the huge age disparity between the injured party and the defendant, the breach of trust and that the offending was carried out in the family home where the injured party should have felt safe. He set a headline sentence of 12 years.

McGrath said the mitigation in this case was the full and early guilty pleas and the genuine remorse shown by the defendant. He sentenced him to nine years in prison. He then took into consideration the lack of previous convictions and that the defendant is in his seventies and that custody will be more difficult. He reduced the sentence to eight years in prison and suspended the final 12 months for two years and placed the man under post-release probation supervision

An investigating garda told Kevin White, prosecuting, that the girl’s mother began a relationship with the accused man in 2012 and they moved in together when she was around seven years old.

The court heard that in 2023 a schoolteacher of the girl became concerned by the contents of an essay she wrote. She confirmed that she had been sexually abused by her mother’s partner and a garda investigation began.

She told gardaí that the abuse occurred on three occasions. She said the first time her mother was out of the house when the accused came to her room. He told her “you don’t’ deserve this Covid time and I want to help you.”

She said he began touching her, kissing and he digitally penetrated her.

She said on a second occasion, she was raped, forced to give him oral sex and sexually assaulted.

She said on that occasion she had been screaming, and he used his hand to cover her mouth.

She told gardai there was a final incident in January 2021 when he sexually assaulted her and forced her to give him oral sex.

Her mother gave a statement saying she first became aware of what had occurred in March 2023 following an argument between her husband and daughter.

Afterwards, her daughter disclosed she had been raped, and she confronted her husband, which was recorded by her daughter.

The man admitted “having sex” with the girl, denying it was rape. He said he was sorry for the hurt caused to her and her mother.

The man was interviewed by gardai and told them he had been “empathising” with the girl, and it had been an effort to “boost her confidence.” He said he was aware she was depressed prior to this.

He said that he thought because she did not resist, she was consenting, but he accepts now she cooperated out of fear. He said he was remorseful.

In her victim impact statement, the young woman outlined how her life changed dramatically at 14-years-old due to the abuse. She was left suffering severe anxiety, stress and fear.

She said she suffers flashbacks and has difficulty trusting people. She outlined she would stay awake all night in the family home, afraid the accused would come into her room, and asked friends to stay on phone calls with her all night.

She said she felt forced to leave her home to find safety and peace at just 17-years-old and also had to leave school. She said the actions of her stepfather had affected her education, future plans and ability to find stable work. She said she has fallen behind her peers and has little support system. She said she was forced to grow up much faster than she should have.

She said it has changed how she feels about family, and she struggles with the effects every day.

Eilis Brennan, defending, said her client very much acknowledges the hurt he caused and accepts the responsibility is fully on him. She asked the court to take into account his very early admissions and co-operation with the gardaí.

She said her client had engaged in psychotherapy and there was a report before the court which had positive indicators.

Counsel said this shows he is moving towards rehabilitation and is keen to further that in prison. She said as part of a sentence he wishes to participate in the “Better Lives” or “New Chapter” programmes in custody.

She said he had a good work history and had come to this stage in his life without any garda attention. She said he has children of his own and his family are appalled by the offences.

Brennan said given that he is in the last third of his life, custody will be more difficult for him. She asked for the sentence to reflect his continuing rehabilitation and consider suspending a portion.