A Co Clare man changed his plea in the Central Criminal Court yesterday on the second day of his trial for raping his daughter and her friend over a number of years.
The 48-year-old man was remanded in custody for sentence on October 16th by Mr Justice Patrick Smith. The defendant had originally faced 102 sex charges but was on trial on 48 rape and incest charges.
He pleaded guilty yesterday to 11 sample charges in relation to the 18-year-old women. He admitted five charges of raping his daughter on unknown dates from 1992 to 1996, one count of anal rape and one of incest with her. He also admitted four counts of raping her friend.
Prosecuting counsel, Mr Michael Durack, said the pleas were acceptable on the basis that they were representative of the 48 rape and incest charges. On Monday the defendant admitted 13 counts of indecent and sexual assault of the two victims and a further charge in relation to a third girl. Giving evidence, his daughter said her father had abused and raped her over a number of years. One day he told her to get her friend to come along. He made them wait for him in a wood. He arrived later from the pub and got them to perform a sexual act on him. He gave them cigarettes and money as payment. On at least one other occasion he raped the friend in front of her.
When she got a job he insisted she have sex with him before leaving in the morning. "Sometimes he might touch me in the morning, the evening, or during the day; whatever time was quiet," she said.
She told Mr Durack the abuse and intercourse took place in a number of locations, including their house, in a shed, in an unoccupied building and in a wood. When her mother was in hospital after giving birth to a baby, he made her sleep in his bed and have sex every night. She ran away in 1996 and gardai found her sleeping in a wheelbarrow in a shed. She was not prepared to go home and the investigation was initiated.