Four-year sentence for uncle who abused girl, 10

A 10-year-old girl who was sexually abused by a 57-year-old uncle figure in her life said in her victim impact statement that she felt fear afterwards and also felt like she had to become an adult.

The accused man was in jail since a jury found him guilty last November and was sentenced yesterday to four years in prison, backdated to November, with the last 18 months suspended. For six years after his release, he must stay out of the district in Kerry where the sexual assaults occurred. He can only return for events such as funerals on notice to the local sergeant.

“There was a huge breach of trust. He was the adult and she was the child. And she was a vulnerable child,” said Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin.