A man who sexually abused his daughter and stepdaughter has been given an eight-year jail sentence.
The two women told the Central Criminal Court how they attempted suicide after repeated sexual abuse by the man.
The girls lived with him and one of them acted as his carer.
The 44-year-old man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the victims, pleaded guilty to six counts of sexual assault against the two girls and one count of rape with an object between 2001 and 2003 at various locations in Dublin.
Mr Justice Paul Carney imposed an eight-year sentence and suspended the final two years.
He took into account the gravity and multiplicity of offences, the breach of trust, the age of the victims and the effect the abuse had upon them. He ordered the accused to stay away from his victims in perpetuity and undergo 18 months post-release supervision.
Both women were under 17 at the time of the abuse.
Evidence was given that the abuse would occur up to two or three times a week.
Profound effect
His daughter told the court how the abuse had an “enormous and profound” effect on her and that she attempted suicide as a result.
She said she was encouraged to drink and take drugs by her abuser and that she did this to “escape” from the abuse. She said she is now receiving counselling and gets great support from the One in Four organisation.
Her stepsister told the court she also tried to take her life after the abuse. She said she still doesn’t know the extent of the damage the accused has done to her. She said she suffers from night terrors and bouts of anger.
“He took everything from me and made me believe that all I was good for was sex,” she stated. She said she felt sorry for the accused but could never forgive him. “He will only be punished for a short period whereas I will be punished for the rest of my life.”
Garda Daniele Cummins told prosecuting counsel, Patrick McGrath, that the girls lived with the accused in a chaotic environment.
Defence counsel Conor Devally SC said his client has an insight into the effects of the abuse and entered early guilty pleas.