A man convicted of raping, buggering, and sexually assaulting his niece when she was aged between five and 10 had his sentence adjourned but must continue therapy at least once a week.
Mr Justice Barr said if the victim was "uncomfortable" with her 35-year-old uncle being left at liberty to continue therapy he would jail him for his "loathsome sexual behaviour" to her.
If the woman, now aged 20, was "comfortable" with the man getting treatment, he would adjourn sentence to October 2000.
He adjourned the matter to October 11th with the man on continuing bail.
The jury at the Central Criminal Court reached a unanimous verdict on all the charges after a four-day trial. The man had pleaded not guilty to committing the offences between 1984 and 1989.
Mr Anthony Sammon SC defending, said his client rejected the verdict so no plea in mitigation could be made.
Mr Justice Barr, who agreed with the jury's verdict, noted a report which suggested the man was no longer a danger.
He said he was also aware that in prisons no therapy was available to sex offenders until the end of their sentence.
The victim's family told of nightmares the girl suffered from the age of five to 19, when she would wake screaming "get off me, leave me alone".