A judge praised the courage and resilience of victims of rape and sexual abuse in an extended family and sentenced three brothers to 16.5 and 11 years in prison on charges of multiple rapes and sexual abuse, reports RTE.
Judge Mary Ellen Ring noted that none of the perpetrators pleaded guilty to any wrongdoing in connection with the rape offence, which she said amounted to a serious attack on the victim’s physical and emotional integrity.
None of the defendants could be identified, and the judge found that none of the defendants agreed with the jury’s verdict.
The family’s home was often along a road, and poverty permeated every aspect of their lives, reports RTE.
The eldest brother, 41, was convicted of raping and anally raping two victims, his sister and niece, for which the court heard he showed no sympathy.
One of the victims was between seven and eight years old at the time of the crime. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison for crimes including vaginal and anal rape.
Three victims, including another brother (38), his sister, the same niece and his de facto brother, were convicted of this crime. He spent 16 and a half years in prison.
A third brother, 40, was sentenced to 11 years in prison for raping his sister’s vagina and four years for sexual assault, which the judge said amounted to a form of seduction, reports RTE.
The oldest man and father of three children, who has not appeared in court since being admitted to hospital on November 1, will be sentenced at a later date.
The verdict was passed after the court heard the trial of the victim and the family members, reports RTE.
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