A Limerick teenager who sexually abused his younger stepsister, while babysitting her, has been sentenced to eight years in prison, with the final three years suspended.
The 19-year-old man, who cannot be identified to protect the girl’s identity, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin to two counts of oral rape and five counts of sexual assault on dates between February 2011 and January 2012 at locations in Limerick and County Clare.
Mr Justice Paul Carney said the sentence is in line with the “the distressing details of the case” along with the breech of trust, the inherent gravity of the offences and the age of the victim.
He ordered that the teenager have no contact with the victim and directed he undertake 18 month post-release supervision. He also placed the teenager on the Sex Offenders Register.
The accused was 16-years-old and the girl was seven when the abuse occurred, when he was minding her. He has no previous convictions.
By Fiona Ferguson and Nicola Donnelly
A native of Ennis, Colin McGann has been editor of The Clare Champion since August 2020. Former editor of The Clare People, he is a journalism and communications graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology.