Galway man who raped stepdaughter for three years learns fate

The 42-year-old Galway man was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury earlier this year of 14 counts of rape of his stepdaughter on dates between 2021 and 2024. The girl was aged between 11 and 14 years old at the time.

He was also convicted of communicating with another 14-year-old girl for purposes of child sexual exploitation in late 2023.

The man can not be named to protect the identity of the girls, who are both still under 18 years old.

He was handed a global sentence of 15 years and a 10-year post-release supervision order on Monday.

An investigating garda told Garrett McCormack SC, prosecuting, that gardai had become involved after the second girl made a disclosure that the man had sent her an image of his penis.

The court heard the rape offences against the man’s stepdaughter came to light during the subsequent investigation. The rapes took place when the girl’s mother was working. The man caused her pain and often used a dressing gown belt to restrain her during the rapes. He also threatened her, saying that no one would believe her and she would be kicked out of the home.

The girl to whom the inappropriate picture had been sent was staying with the family at the time. The man was a close family friend and was aware that the girl was experiencing significant difficulties in her life at the time.

There was communication between the man and the second girl in the months before this offending occurred. At one point, she told him she was a child and he should not use sexualised language about her body.

The man was interviewed and denied all of the allegations. He has no previous convictions.

Imposing sentence, Ms Justice Caroline Biggs said the aggravating factors in relation to the rapes include the “gravest breach of trust”, the “unimaginable” harm caused to the girl “for perverse sexual gratification” and the degradation of the use of restraints.

In relation to the offence involving the second girl, the judge said it was aggravating that having been warned by the child, he “continued with that depraved form of communication”.

“She was the one who acted as a responsible adult,” the judge said, adding that the harm caused to this girl, her vulnerabilities, and the overlap between this offence and the rapes were also aggravating.

The judge noted there has been no expression of remorse or evidence of rehabilitation. She said she took the man’s health issues and personal circumstances into account as mitigation.

Ms Justice Biggs said she would impose a global sentence to reflect the aggravating factor that there are two victims. Having imposed the 15-year sentence, the judge imposed a 10-year post release supervision order with strict conditions.

Addressing the two girls, who were watching the case via video-link, she thanked them both for their involvement in the criminal process.

The judge said both girls “strike me as wonderful girls” who “had to grow up far to quickly” and “far too much maturity I can read in the victim impact statement for ones so young”.

She said both girls are “far stronger than you know”, and thanked them for their victim impact statements. “Notwithstanding what happened, I hope you will be able to experience joy and fulfilment and wish you both the best in your lives.”

In her victim impact statement, the man’s stepdaughter said the abuse had robbed her of her innocence and childhood and left her living with post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression.

Almost three years later, she continued to experience flashbacks and panic attacks, struggled to sleep and no longer felt safe in her own home.

Despite treatment and support, she continues to struggle with intense emotional distress and had resorted to self-harm as a way of coping. She rarely leaves the house, struggles to spend time with friends and feels she has missed out on a normal teenage life.

She said the abuse had damaged her relationships, leaving her isolated and afraid. She had worked hard to rebuild those bonds, but the effects could not be erased. School had once provided an escape, but she no longer felt safe there after speaking out, and leaving school had changed her life.

She said the trial had forced her to revisit the darkest moments of her life. The abuse continues to affect how she lives and views the world. She said she would grieve the childhood and teenage years taken from her. “Those lost years can never be replaced,” she said.

The second girl also read her victim impact statement and told the accused man he had taken advantage of her vulnerability, while she trusted him and looked to him as a father figure.

She said he had stolen her innocence and peace of mind. She said she feels she will never trust anyone again and these events have left her with emotional damage that she and her family will carry for the rest of her life.

Defence counsel told the court that the man does not accept the jury verdict. He said the man had no prior convictions and a good working history. He outlined some medical issues the man suffers with and said he is on anti-depressants, but no medical report was available to the court.