A Wexford man has been sentenced to 15 years for raping and sexually abusing a boy over a five-year period.
The 45-year-old man, who is the brother of the victim’s father’s partner, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to a number of sample charges of sexual assault, rape and oral rape between October 1st, 2007, and September 30th, 2012. He also pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation in his home in a Wexford town between October 1st and October 31st, 2012. He was registered as a sex offender when he pleaded guilty on an earlier date.
The victim, who was eight when the abuse started, told gardaí if he ever said “no”, the man he would “do it harder” or hit him. He said the abuse happened “well over a hundred times” and included touching, oral rape and rape “sometimes up to six times a night”.
Mr Justice Paul Carney handed down a 15-year sentence with the last three years suspended. He took into account the gravity and multiplicity of the offences, which happened over an extended period.
Mr Justice Carney also took into account the breach of trust and the affect on the victim.
In mitigation the judge took into account the absence of previous convictions and the man’s strong work ethic.
The judge also ordered that he undergo 18 months post-release supervision.
A local detective sergeant told Caroline Cummings, prosecuting, that the then 13-year-old boy disclosed the abuse to his parents in October 2012 and gardaí were alerted.
He said a number of medical reports before the court confirmed that the victim had suffered physical injuries from the abuse and has had suicidal thoughts from a young age.