Woman gets €253k over eight-year abuse by uncle

A woman who was abused as a child by her uncle has been awarded €253,000 damages by a High Court judge.

Mr Justice Kevin Cross said the woman, now aged 46, was sexually assaulted over an eight-year period from when was seven years of age until she was 15, between 1977 and 1985. The uncle, who was eight years older than her, the judge said was in a position of trust in the family.

Given the awful and horrific nature of the assaults, the judge awarded €200,000 general damages to the mother of three for pain and suffering in the past along with €50,000 for pain and suffering into the future as well as €3,000 towards medical and counselling bills.