‘Big brother and protector’ sexually abused little sister

A Dublin man who as a teenager abused his sister has been jailed for six years.

Brian Butler, now aged 31, began abusing his sister when he was 14 and continued until he was 17. His sister was aged between 9 and 12 at the time.

His sister, who has waived her right to anonymity, told the court that her family had been torn apart and destroyed by the abuse. She told the court she felt as if her brother was treated as the victim.

Butler, of Moyclare Close, Baldoyle, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to sexual assault and oral rape of Leanne Butler at their family home on dates between January 2000 and December 2002.

The abuse came to light after his sister told a friend. Butler attended therapeutic services for child sex offenders and a formal complaint was not made to gardaí until 2013. His sister also attended for counselling.

Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy said

Ms Butler had given harrowing evidence in relation to her childhood, which had undoubtedly been blighted by the abuse and caused significant long-term problems for her.

Mr Justice McCarthy imposed a six-year sentence and ordered four years post release supervision to include participation in offence focused work and a victim awareness program.

In her victim impact statement Leanne Butler, now aged 26, said she had been a happy child “without a care in the world” and that Butler had been her favourite person — “my big brother and protector”.