A MIDLANDS girl became a nun in the 1950s to escape her older brother who was sexually abusing and raping her, the Central Criminal Court heard yesterday.
The man, now aged 67, who the court heard went on to became a "pillar" of his local community and church, was given a five-year suspended sentence by Mr Justice Morris.
The judge said the defendant's offences had been appalling conduct which would not be tolerated by the court, but every case had to be dealt with on its merits.
He suspended the sentence because the tragedy and shame the defendant had brought on his own decent family was punishment. Mr Justice Morris said he was also suspending the term because his sister perceived the purpose of reporting the abuse was to protect society.
The defendant originally faced 69 charges but admitted five in May. He pleaded guilty to three counts of having unlawful carnal knowledge of his sister in 1950, 1951 and 1953. He also admitted two charges of indecent assault against a niece on unknown dates in 1988 when she was aged about 16.
A Garda superintendent said the defendant came from a model family" and the offences had come as a terrible blow to them.
A sergeant told Mr Patrick Gageby SC, prosecuting, that, the defendant had subjected his sister to continual rape and indecent assault from when she was aged seven to 16.
When she was 16 he warned her that if she told anyone about the abuse or refused his advances, he would get her on her own and "put her up the pole".
A year later the victim joined a convent to escape him and stayed there for over five years. She kept the abuse a secret until she heard that he had also indecently assaulted her niece.
The sister is now married and gave evidence to the sentence hearing. She praised the nuns who, she said, had cared for her and helped her develop a strong relationship with God.
She agreed with Mr Justice Morris that she revealed the abuse in November 1995 to protect society and other young girls. The publicity surrounding the Father Brendan Smyth case had also helped convince her of the need for victims to come forward, she said.
The defendant's wife, as well as a son and daughter, told Mr Seamus Sorahan SC, defending, that he was a wonderful husband and father. They had been shocked and embarrassed by the offences but forgave him. They still respected and were proud of him, they added.