A TEENAGER who claims her stepfather sexually abused her from the age of four and then raped her has been disowned by her family, Belfast Crown Court heard yesterday.
Her 67 year old stepfather, who cannot be named to protect her identity, denies indecently assaulting her from August 1983 and raping her from January 1991 to July 1994.
Mr Ken McMahon QC, prosecuting, told trial judge, Mr Justice McCollum, that since talking to police the 17 year old has been "split" from her mother, two sisters and brother.
However, Mr McMahon also claimed that the man stopped abusing his step daughter when confronted by her two elder sisters after she had confided in them at the age of 15.
The court heard that in January 1994 the man allegedly agreed to stop after pleading with the girls "just don't tell your mum".
In August the following year, 1995, Mr McMahon claimed the man admitted to his wife and his daughter's boyfriend that he had "touched" her, but not that he had raped her.
It was as a result of these family "discussions", that finally led to the family split.
The court also heard that following his arrest the man denied ever touching his stepdaughter or having sexual intercourse with her.
The man also allegedly told police that he never confessed to his family that he had abused the girl, although he did admit there had once been a family meeting, but claimed the discussion had been about "music".
Earlier, Mr McMahon claimed the teenager would tell the court that the abuse began after her first day at school at the age of four when her stepfather allegedly touched her as she attempted to change out of her school uniform. The lawyer further claimed that the abuse continued on a regular basis and over the years progressed in its severity until finally when the girl was about 12 her stepfather raped her for the first time. The trial continues.