Woman abused by her brother gets €2.5m

A WOMAN who suffered eight years of “appalling” sexual abuse by her brother from the age of four in their Co Dublin family home has been awarded a record €2.5 million damages against him.

After one hour of deliberation, the High Court jury of seven men and five women unanimously found the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was sexually assaulted and awarded her €2m compensatory and €500,000 exemplary damages.

The award is the highest ever here for child sex abuse, with the second-highest being about €1m, Mr Justice Éamon de Valera observed.