A DUBLIN man who sexually abused his two sons for almost a decade has been jailed for seven years.
Mr Seamus Sorahan SC, defending, said there was some question of a sexual disease in the case but not AIDS or syphilis. His client, had agreed to take a blood test to allay fears about this.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court was told by a Garda sergeant that the man began touching his eldest son sexually when the boy was six. When the boy was 12 he buggered him for the first time.
Judge Kieran O'Connor said the defendant had made his sons life horrible from an early age.
He was a "very sick man" and the only good thing in the case was his guilty plea. He did not deserve his loyal wife who was standing by him, Judge O'Connor added.
Mr Sorahan said the offences "beggared description Many people might feel even a 10 year sentence was not enough. Years ago his client might have faced life imprisonment.
The man, in his 40s, pleaded guilty to a number of offences of buggering and indecently assaulting his sons from 1982 to 1991. There were originally over 60 charges on the indictment. The victims are now in their 20s.
The sergeant told Mr George Birmingham, prosecuting, that the offences came to light during an altercation between one of the sons and his father at the family home in 1993. The son made the allegations, and gardai were, contacted.
The defendant initially denied, the allegations but later admitted the offences against one son. He only admitted touching in relation to the second son when questioned.
The defendant's wife told the court she had been shocked angered by the sexual abuse revelations. Her husband had a drink problem and had hit her during drunken rows but she was standing by him.
The court heard that in early stages of the investigations the defendant appeared to believe his actions were normal and did not seem to appreciate how wrong they were. Later, he indicated great remorse.