Sentence adjourned for man who also preyed on nieces and
children of friends
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/abuse-by-my-own-father-made-me-feel--worthless-1278560.html
By Fiona Ferguson
A MAN who sexually abused his daughter while reading her bedtime stories --
as well as four nieces and children of family friends over a 15-year period --
has had his sentence adjourned.
The 67-year-old man pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 14
sample counts of indecent assault against the seven female victims, on dates
between October 1974 and November 1989.
His now 40-year-old daughter wept as she told the judge: "If your
father does that to you and your mother stands by him, it makes you feel
worthless."
She said counselling she had received "made
me realise we are adults and someone has to stand up
for children".
Mistrustful
The woman described feeling isolated, mistrustful of men and overprotective
of her own children. "My father's guilty plea is the only thing I will say
'thank you' for."
The other women described, in their victim impact Statements how they
suffered from suicidal feelings, mistrust of men, panic attacks and insomnia.
Many described a negative impact on family and martial relationships.
The defence counsel said his client was "a
pariah in his own family" who has attended counselling
and not reoffended since 1989.
He asked the court to consider a suspended sentence.
Prosecuting counsel heard that the accused man abused his own daughter
frequently, between the ages of 11 and 13.
The abuse would often occur while he was reading her bedtime stories, when
he would put his hand into her underwear.
The woman told gardai that the abuse happened
while her mother was downstairs. She believed her mother was unaware of what
was happening but she did not tell her for fear of not being believed.
She told gardai the last time her father came into
her room to abuse her she told him "no" and wrapped herself in a
duvet. He left and never touched her in that way again. She felt guilt for not
stopping it earlier.
The court heard that the man also abused four nieces.
A now 40-year-old woman told gardai she remembered
her uncle first abusing her when she was 10, by touching her intimately when
she came to stay with him. She said the abuse continued for three years.
A now 33-year-old niece told gardai she remembered
him abusing her when she was aged six. She said there were several people
around the lounge when he put her sitting on his knee and covered her lap with
a cushion. He touched her while continuing to chat.
Lessons
The woman said her uncle also abused her for a period when she was aged 13
under the guise of giving her guitar lessons.
She also recalled being abused on a family holiday when she was 15 years
old. Her uncle kissed and fondled her in a secluded area before pulling her to
the ground, fondling her breasts.
The court also heard that a now 31-year-old niece told gardai
she could not remember when he first abused her but she remembered him
"French kissing" her and touching her sexually, until she was 13.
Another niece recalled her uncle abusing her when she was "caught"
in a game of hide and seek.
The court heard that a friend of the man's daughter had
recalled how he would take turns sitting them on his knee and show them
how to steer the car. She said the man would put his hands in her underwear
when she was on his knee.
She told gardai she eventually stopped talking to
the accused man's daughter and the abuse ceased.
Detective Garda Peter Cooney told the court that
the man also abused a 10-year-old girl from a family they became friendly with
while on holidays.
Gda Cooney said the man made some admissions and
told gardai he "had a problem with four or five
girls".
The man, who has no previous convictions, told gardai
the abuse was "non-sexual" and he did it to feel "closer"
to his daughter, but could not explain why he abused the other girls.
Defence counsel said his client was "watched
by a hawks eye" by family members around children and was "punished
every day in a very real way".
He said the man had sent letters of apology to his victims and now
appreciated how traumatic the abuse had been for them.
He added that his client had not come to garda
attention again since the last of the offences in 1989.
He said there were no aggravating factors which often accompanied cases of this
kind and asked the court to consider a suspended sentence.
The judge adjourned sentencing to allow her consider reports handed into
court.
- Fiona Ferguson
Remarks by Sieglinde W. Alexander: To bring abuse to court after
30 years would not possible in