An Offaly man (63) was today jailed for eight years for the "horrific and systematic" abuse of three of his daughters.
The Central Criminal Court in Dublin was told the father had subjected his children to some of the most heinous crimes outside of murder.
Mrs Justice Elizabeth Dunne told the court the man had shown little understanding of the severity of the abuse, which totalled more than 40 convictions.
"Horrific and systematic abuse is the only words that one can use, they are the most heinous crimes outside of murder," the judge said.
The man was jailed for 42 convictions of abuse ranging from indecent assault to the rape of one of the girls when she was only nine years of age.
Mrs Justice Dunne told the court the man had shown no understanding, insight or empathy over the convictions. She said he had progressed over the eight-year period of abuse from inappropriate touching to indecent assault that culminated in rape.
The man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of his three daughters, was convicted in February at the Central Criminal Court on seven charges of rape and 12 further charges of indecent assault of his second eldest daughter.
The jury also returned 16 guilty verdicts of indecent assault on the eldest daughter and one guilty verdict in relation to a third daughter.
The period of abuse ran from April 1978 when one of the girls was as young as five, until March 1986 when one of the daughters was as old as 14.
Mrs Justice Dunne refused an application for leave to appeal in respect of the sentence and convictions and said time already served in custody would be taken into consideration.
The man will also be subject to a two-year supervision period after his release.
PA