14 years for rape and sex assault of stepdaughter

A Laois man who raped and sexually assaulted his stepdaughter over an eight-year period has received a 14-year prison sentence.

Noel Maher, aged 42, began assaulting Amy Kenna in August 2001, when she was 10, and began raping her when she was aged 13.

In July, a jury found Maher guilty of three counts of sexually assaulting Ms Kenna between August 2001 and August 2007 at different locations in Co Laois. Maher, formerly of Barrow Way, Spa St, Portarlington, was also convicted of 34 counts of raping her between August 2005 to November 2009 at locations in Co Laois.