Four years for father who abused daughters

A father who sexually abused both his daughters from the time they were seven and nine years old has been jailed for four years by Judge Katherine Delahunt at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

The 46-year-old man who cannot be named to protect the identity of the victims would touch the girls’ breasts and vaginas and make them touch his genitals in game called “tickle Daddy”.

The crimes came to light when the older girl confided in a school friend when she was 16 years old, and this girl then reported the incidents to the school principal.

The principal approached the victim’s 12-year-old sister and she confirmed that her father was also abusing her.

The man pleaded guilty to seven charges of sexually assaulting the older girl and six charges of sexually assaulting the younger victim. The charges represented sample counts from a total of 126. He has no previous convictions.

Judge Delahunt commended the school and the man’s wife for acting quickly when they discovered the abuse. She called it the “most serious breach of trust” and noted the large amount of offences and the lengthy period they went on for.

She ordered him to undergo 10 years' post-release supervision and counselling through The Probation Service.