A man who sexually assaulted his sister and brother over a number of years has been given a three-year suspended sentence by Judge Elizabeth Dunne.
"I am not the person I was back then and am awfully sorry. I apologise for having disrupted the family. I am ashamed and embarrassed," he said at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
The man (39), who is the second eldest in a family of eight children, pleaded guilty to six counts of indecent assault, three relating to his sister between 1972 and 1978 and three to his brother between 1972 and 1983. The matter arose only after the defendant returned to Ireland after having lived abroad.
Det Sgt George McGeary told Ms Mary Ellen Ring, prosecuting, that the initial assault of his sister, who was two years younger than himself, consisted of the defendant touching her on her breast when she was aged 11 to 12. He threatened her when she decided to take up smoking that he would tell their parents if she didn't agree to certain acts.
Sgt McGeary said these acts occurred twice weekly until she was aged 16 years. Eventually she stood up to her brother and a friend advised her to seek help. His younger brother by seven years was sexually assaulted by the defendant in the bath. There were further sexual acts in their bedroom.
Sgt McGeary said the offences occurred late at night when the defendant was drunk. In 1985, complaints were made by his sister which led to her and her brother seeking professional advice. Her abused brother was admitted to St Patrick's Hospital suffering depression. A formal complaint was made more than 10 years later to gardai in 1997 and the defendant was arrested.
The defendant's father apologised to the court. He said unfortunately he did not support the victims when they most needed it.
He asked the court not to impose a custodial sentence.
Mr Eamonn Leahy SC, defending, asked Judge Dunne to take into consideration that the defendant had pleaded guilty to the offences and had shown genuine remorse. Judge Dunne said the effects on the victims were appalling to say the least, and it was clear they were both suffering.
The family had been "riven asunder", but it was too often the case that the victims felt it was their fault for the break-up of the family. She suspended the sentence and placed the defendant under a period of 18 months strict probationary supervision.