Five-year term for man who repeatedly raped sister

A Wexford man who raped and sexually assaulted his sister over a five-year period in his early teens has been jailed for five years by Mr Justice Paul Carney at the Central Criminal Court.

The 23-year-old man, who twice tried to commit suicide and began drinking heavily when he realised the wrong he was doing, said he started sexually abusing his sister after finding his mother having sexual intercourse in their house with a family friend.

Dr Brian McCaffrey, forensic psychiatrist, told prosecuting counsel, Mr Fergal Foley BL that the accused "did the acts of a paedophile, (but) he does not have the characteristics of a paedophile".

The father of one pleaded guilty to four sample charges each of rape and sexual assault. The defendant was aged 12-17 years and the victim eight to 13 years when the offending took place.

Mr Justice Carney imposed five-year terms on the rape charges and three-year terms on the sexual assault counts, all to run concurrently. He also certified him as a registered sex offender and directed he undergo three years post-release supervision.

Mr Justice Carney suspended the final year of the sentences unconditionally after noting that the defendant had brought in his guilty pleas at the earliest possible opportunity which signalled to the victim that she didn’t have to give evidence and also freed a trial date for another case.