Stepfather loses appeal in abuse case

A man responsible for "truly horrific" sexual and physical abuse of his stepdaughter, including beatings with a belt and closed…

A man responsible for "truly horrific" sexual and physical abuse of his stepdaughter, including beatings with a belt and closed fists, yesterday lost his appeal against a 17-year jail sentence imposed for the offences.

However, the three-judge Court of Criminal Appeal decided the man, who was described as "a respected member of the community" before the conviction, could apply for a review of his sentence after he had served nine years.

Delivering the court's decision, Mr Justice Murphy, sitting with Mr Justice O'Donovan and Mr Justice Patrick Smith, noted the Supreme Court had stated in another case that it was important to recognise "the desirability of contemplating that the accused should some day be rehabilitated to society".

It was in the interests of society that the defendant should be encouraged to pursue the opportunities for reform.

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Mr Justice Murphy said the court would emphasise that the purpose of a review would be to ascertain whether the apparent progress was maintained and, if so, whether in those circumstances it would be appropriate to suspend any of the sentence then outstanding.

The judge said that between 1993 and 1995, when the stepdaughter was in her teens, the man sexually and physically dominated her in a manner and to an extent which was truly horrific.

What started as mild physical contact quickly developed into serious and frequent beating and punching. Even the abuse at that level required medical treatment.

Mr Justice Murphy said little could be said in mitigation. Certainly, the defendant had pleaded guilty.

The extent to which he had felt or expressed remorse in the first instance was more controversial.