A CO GALWAY man has been jailed for 9 1/2 years for sexually abusing his daughter since she was seven.
In a 10 page judgment, Mr Justice Flood told the Central Criminal Court in Dublin the offences were committed by a person in a position of trust.
"These offences manifest sadistic lust, inherent violence, total absence of respect for bodily integrity and personal dignity of his daughter, complete disregard for paternal trust and obligation, and the total violation of her constitutional rights as an individual," he said.
But citing decisions of the Court of Criminal Appeal and the Supreme Court, Mr Justice Flood said sentencing was "neither an exercise in vengeance, nor is it retaliation by the victim on the defendant".
The sentence also had to be "appropriate to his degree of guilt in his personal circumstances The defendant could apply in six years' time for a possible review of the case, Mr Justice Flood said.
The 42 year old unemployed father of four pleaded guilty in February to five sample charges out of the original 18 counts on the indictment relating to his now 18 year old daughter.
He pleaded guilty to attempting to rape her in 1986 and to committing oral rape on her on September 20th, 1992. He also admitted indecently assaulting her in 1986 and 1988 and sexually assaulting her in 1991.
Prosecution counsel, Mr Paul McDermott, had previously told the court that in July 1993 it came to light the girl had been abused from the age of seven.
Defence counsel, Mr Padraic O'Higgins SC, said his client was very remorseful and realised he had to go to jail. He hoped he would get treatment there as he did not understand the reasons for his offending.