A man whose sexual assault on a six-year-old girl left her needing reconstructive surgery was today sentenced to 12 years in prison.
The 27-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was sentenced to serve 12 years in prison, with the final three years suspended, at Galway Circuit Criminal Court.
The man, who is a cousin of the child's mother, is to be supervised by the Probation Service on his release from prison for a further ten years and will be placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life.
The court heard the child may never be able to have children when she grows up and that she had to undergo reconstructive surgery to her genital area following the assault, which took place down a bog road near a Travellers' encampment on May 10th last year.
Medical reports from Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, in Crumlin detailed the extensive damage suffered by the child, who was left with a postoperative colostomy bag.
Judge Groarke noted from other reports given to the court that the child was physically and psychologically damaged for life, and that her capacity to have children when she grows up is questionable.