A man who cut a hole in his bedroom floor to give himself ready access to a girl's room below has been jailed for three years for sexually abusing her.
The 45-year-old Cork man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to five counts of sexually assaulting the 10-year-old girl between January 1995 and January 1996.
Judge Cyril Kelly said the defendant had effectively been in the position of "father" to the child. He forced her to perform a sexual act on him while other children were in the same room.
Judge Kelly said a number of factors also disturbed him. He noted the defendant had minimised his responsibility and seemed to blame the child for "looking for a reward".
The girl had complained to a woman who was living in the same building but nothing was done about it. The defendant also warned the victim that if she told he would be jailed.
The victim was experiencing great difficulties in her life as a result of the abuse and needed continuing therapy. "I think this man is a continual risk to children," Judge Kelly added.
A garda told prosecution counsel, Mr Patrick McCarthy, that the man lived in a room above the victim. His room was the focal point for a number of children he looked after as he had a television.
The girl used to lock her bedroom door to keep the man out, but he cut a crude hatch in his bedroom floor and climbed down using a ladder.
Defence counsel, Mr Blaise O'Carroll SC, said the man claimed he cut the hatchway because the girl had asthma and he wanted to be able to come to her assistance quickly.