The Court of Criminal Appeal today reserved judgment on whether to extend the prison sentence of former Northern Ireland human rights campaigner Vincent McKenna for sexually abusing his daughter.
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Vincent McKenna being led away after his conviction for sexually assualting his daughter
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The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had asked the court to extend the three year sentence given to McKenna after his conviction for abusing his daughter Sorcha over a nine-year period.
Ms McKenna, aged 20, waived her legal right to anonymity in order to publicly shame her father. The DPP submitted to the court that the sentence handed to the 38-year-old founder of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Bureau, after his conviction at Monaghan Circuit Court in November 2000, was too lenient.
The three judge court, presided over by Mr Justice Geoghegan, was told that when abuse had continued over a period of years there should be a "consecutive" element to the sentence.
But senior counsel for McKenna, Mr Michael O'Higgins, told the court that the norm for such sentences was for them to be served concurrently.
He also pointed out that on the same day as McKenna was sentenced a prominent Gaelic Athletic Association official was given a similar three-year term for abusing six victims.
The DPP did not appeal this case, Mr O'Higgins said.
Outside court, student Ms McKenna said she hoped that the sentence would be increased.
She said: "Today I was hoping that there would be an end to it all. I was optimistic that there would be an increase in the sentence."
She said she had "no regrets" about her decision to go public and was now enjoying life at university in Galway.
"My family and circle of friends are supporting me," she added.
Today's hearing followed a failed attempt by McKenna, formerly of Haypark Avenue, Ormeau Road, Belfast, to have his conviction overturned at appeal in October last year.
He was convicted of 31 counts of indecent and sexual assault on Sorcha, his eldest daughter, between 1985 and 1993.
No date was set for judgment to be delivered.