A Carlow man who raped and sexually assaulted two nieces and a nephew has been jailed for eight years by Mr Justice Paul Carney at the Central Criminal Court.
The 41-year-old man pleaded guilty to six charges of raping and anally raping his nieces and of sexually assaulting his nephew at locations in Carlow on dates between 1993 and 2003.
Mr Justice Carney directed that his name be added to the register of sex offenders and that he undergo five years post-release supervision. He said the offences could scarcely be more grave and there was an element of grooming involved as well as a breach of trust. He noted the man had pleaded guilty after a high degree of co-operation with gardaí and had no previous convictions. Mr Justice Carney imposed eight-year terms on the rape charges and four years for the sexual assaults, all to run concurrently and he unconditionally suspended the final 18 months of the eight year sentences. "This is a case in which I could be increased by the Court of Criminal Appeal," he said.
Sgt John Ward told Paul Greene, prosecuting, that the man's eldest niece told how he brought her to his house and anally raped her. She was aged about eight years at the time and he gave her £5 afterwards.
The second niece told how he would bring her to a McDonalds fast-food outlet and other places on the occasions on which he would rape and anally rape her. The man's nephew recalled three specific incidents of being sexually assaulted without recalling any penetration.