A Dublin man whose 14-yearold daughter had a miscarriage after he made her pregnant has been jailed for 2 1/2 years. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court was told the defendant was a shopkeeper who was a "very emotionally needy" person. He had also been traumatised by raiders who had robbed his shop 15 times in the last few years. The 42-year-old man pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting his daughter on two occasions, once in November and once in December 1995.
Ms Una Ni Raifeartaigh, counsel for the prosecution, said the State did not contend there had been any penetration involved in the offending. But it was accepted the defendant made his daughter pregnant as a result of the December incident.
A detective sergeant said the defendant was married with a number of daughters. Other relatives also lived in the family home.
The victim had been in third year in secondary school when the offending started and progressed to the serious offences covered by the two charges before the court.
The detective said the matter came to light four days before Christmas 1995. The victim had been very concerned she was pregnant and left a PE class in tears with a friend.
Her teacher followed her, and realising something was very wrong contacted the school head. The gardai were then called and the girl made a statement. A test confirmed she was pregnant and she miscarried in January 1996.
The now 16-year-old girl told gardai that the offences were carried out at night when the other family members were in bed. Her father would call her to the television room. In December 1995 he forgot to wear a condom. She had a shower afterwards, she said.
The detective said the defendant was invited to come to a Garda station on December 27th, 1995, and notes were made of his replies.
He left the station following advice from a solicitor. At all stages he had made it known he would make a statement of admission by January 11th, 1996, and he did so on that date.
The defendant's counsellor, Ms Marie Keenan, said he had had a life history of stress and emotional trouble and was a "very emotionally needy" person.
Judge Cyril Kelly said the defendant's behaviour had been a breach of all "social, moral and legal" parameters.
"The child described feeling dirty and felt it was her fault," he said, which was a classic description of the experience of victims of abuse.
Judge Kelly said that taking all matters into account he had to impose a sentence of 2 1/2 years. He also praised the detective's work during the investigation.