Man who abused three granddaughters sentenced to three years

A 69-year-old Co Clare man who sexually abused his three granddaughters has been given a three-year jail sentence by Mr Justice Paul Butler at the Central Criminal Court.

The widower, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty in June 2004 to 10 charges of sexual assault in relation to the three victims on dates from 1989 to 1999. The victims were aged variously nine to 15 years, six to 13 years and seven to eight years when abused.