Tipperary man, 75, jailed for 20 years for rape of sister and seven daughters

One victim said she was starved and forced to beg for food outside while another said she did not know what a Christmas present was until she was an adult.

(Left to right) Philomena Connors, Helen O'Donoghue, Mary Moran, Margaret Hutchinson, Anne O'Reilly, Bridget O'Reilly and Kathleen O'Driscoll, the daughters of James O'Reilly subjected the young girls to "horrific" sexual abuse for more than 20 years. Pic: Collins

A Co. Tipperary man has been jailed for 20 years for the repeated rape and sexual abuse of his younger sister and seven daughters over a 23-year period.

From 1977 to 2000, James O'Reilly, 75, subjected the young girls to “horrific” sexual abuse, as well as physical beatings, starvation and degradation, the Central Criminal Court heard this morning.