A man who sexually assaulted his stepdaughter over a four-year period has been jailed for six years by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Patrick Gleeson (53), Blackditch Road, Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty to seven sample charges of the sexual assault of the now 15-year-old girl in a west Dublin suburb between February 1998 and January 2002.
Judge Michael White said "this is one of the most serious cases of abuse I have had to deal with" and described the assaults as "a horrendous experience for this young child".
He has directed that Gleeson's name be recorded on the register of sex offenders.
The court heard that Gleeson used a toothbrush, screwdriver and perfume bottle to abuse the girl.
Det Garda Eamon O'Neill told Fergal Foley, prosecuting, that Gleeson was in a relationship with the victim's mother and lived with them as a stepfather.
Det Garda O'Neill said the girl was now in care and had suicidal tendencies. She had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, she was depressed and on medication.
Her mother told Judge White that her daughter was "absolutely devastated" and had changed from a happy-go-lucky "girlie girl" into a "junkie boy" who had become aggressive, who had taken drugs and alcohol and who wanted to kill herself and her mother.
She said she was afraid to have her daughter at home as she was too unstable and could slit her wrists at any time.
Det Garda O'Neill said Gleeson had no previous convictions, had shown remorse and co-operated with the investigation.
Consultant psychiatrist Dr Brian McCaffery told Roger Sweetman SC, defending, that Gleeson suffered from delusions and had long-term paranoid schizophrenia. "He seems to be more worried about a detective and nurses he believes are trying to kill him than he is about this court case," Dr McCaffrey said.
Judge White said that while the court had sympathy for anyone suffering mental illness, there was no evidence to indicate Gleeson was psychotic at the time of the offences.
He would have used subterfuge and cunning to carry out his crimes. He jailed Gleeson for six years.