A MAN inflicted a reign of sexual abuse on his daughter which started when she was aged seven, the Central Criminal Court was told yesterday.
On one occasion, he tied her to her sickbed, put on a condom and tried to rape her.
The 42 year old unemployed father of four from Co Galway pleaded guilty to five sample charges out of the original 18 counts on the indictment. The daughter is now 18.
He pleaded guilty to attempting to rape her in 1986 and to committing oral rape on her on September 20th, 1992. He also admitted indecently assaulting her in 1986 and 1988 and sexually assaulting her in 1991.
Mr Paul McDermott, prosecuting, said the guilty pleas were acceptable to the State on the basis that they were sample charges.
Remanding the man in continuing custody to May 28th next, Mr Justice Flood described the case as both "very sad and serious".
He said he was conscious that a second visit to the court would be traumatic for the victim and her family. However, he stressed that he wanted time to consider all the evidence and to lay out his reasons for the sentence he would impose.
Mr McDermott said the abuse came to light in July, 1993. In a statement to social workers the victim recalled numerous acts perpetrated by her father. She said that once,when she was sick in bed while her mother and siblings were at Mass, her father tied her hand and foot to a bed, put on a condom and attempted unsuccessfully to rape her.
The daughter described being "really hurt" but said her father warned her not to tell anyone as it was their "secret".
A detective agreed with Mr McDermott that the daughter said the abuse started with touching when she was seven. Her mother was never in the house when the abuse took place and her father also ensured the other children were in a different room.
He abused her while taking baths with her, and at night when she looked for a goodnight kiss he would get into bed with her and make her touch him.
The witness said that after 1987 her father got her involved in other sexual acts. She described feeling sick afterwards.
She told social workers that in August, 1992, when she was 13 her father put on slow music and told her to strip. He also undressed and demanded she dance with him. For the first time, she refused his request and he threatened to hit her.
The detective said there were marital difficulties between the accused and his wife. She sought a barring order against him in 1993 and the sexual abuse was revealed.
The father made a full statement in October 1993, confirming his daughter's claims.
Mr Padraic O'Higgins SC (with Mr Brendan Grehan), defending, said his client was very remorseful and realised he had to go to jail.