B&B owner abused daughter from age of 5

The horror secrets of a welcoming family-run B&B in the idyllic village of Adare unfolded yesterday.

Guest house owner Oliver Haskett for years inflicted a reign of depraved sexual terror on his daughter Sheila which drove her to the verge of suicide, Limerick Circuit Court heard.

Haskett, now aged 61 and living in Westbury, Limerick, pleaded guilty to 12 counts of indecently assaulting his daughter between Jan 1988 and Dec 1990 and to a further 20 counts of sexually assaulting her between Jan 1991 and Dec 1995.

The abuse started when Sheila was aged five and the family was living in Foynes.

Outlining the abuse Michael Collins, counsel for the DPP, said the victim, who is now married, was waiving her right to anonymity and her right that the accused, her father, not be named.

Garda Elaine Freemantle, Foynes, said the victim made a statement to gardaí about the abuse in Sept 2008. She produced a letter she had received from her father, in which he apologised for abusing her over the years in their various family homes in Foynes, Kilcornan, and latterly Adare.

Over the years there was an atmosphere of correction and control over the family members, who were dominated by Haskett.

The abuse started when Sheila was 5 and there was a strict regime in the home, where she was chastised for matters such as mispronouncing words.

Haskett photographed Sheila naked in the home and when they were on holidays in 1985 and 1986.

Haskett’s wife at the time, Sheila’s mother, kept a “bold list” which he would get each evening and mete out punishment accordingly.

There was ongoing abuse and Sheila told gardaí there was an element of fear, and she felt there was no escape.

In 1991, the family moved to Adare where they ran a B&B, and Sheila at this time had started secondary school.

When she was aged 16, one night after coming home, Haskett brought her to a room in the B&B, took off her bra and panties and abused her.

When she was 17 he took her to a bedroom and again sexually abused her.

Mr Collins read out a victim impact statement in which Sheila recalled trying to commit suicide and ending up in hospital with alcohol poisoning. She also suffered from eating disorders as a result of the abuse.

There was great sadness in her life due to her lost innocence.

Her ambitions had not been fulfilled as she could not apply herself to her education due to the ongoing abuse.

She drank to block out the pain and still receives treatment for depression.

Her childhood had been lost to the dysfunction in her family and her formative years had been immersed in it. When she had been in a romantic relationship, she suffered flashbacks.

She said her mother facilitated the abuse.

Pat Barriscale, defence counsel, said Haskett was undergoing a programme of treatment which should lower the risk of re-offending if he continued his treatment long-term.

Haskett, he said, had given his daughter €166,000 compensation from the sale of an investment property.

Judge Carroll Moran said it was a difficult and particularly serious case involving the abuse of a daughter by her father. He ordered Haskett’s name be placed on the sex offenders’ register and adjourned sentence to Oct 24.

Remanding Haskett in custody, Judge Moran said that there would be a prison sentence.