A man who abused his daughter’s friend during a play date at his house in Dublin has been jailed for four years.
The 49-year-old, who can’t be named in order to protect the girl’s identity, was found guilty of sexually assaulting her in October 2016, when she was just six.
This was the third time the man stood trial for this charge.
The girl had to give evidence twice – something acknowledged by the judge in her remarks before sentencing.
Judge Elma Sheehan said what he did “represented a significant breach of trust” when a child goes to play with a friend and is put in such danger.
She also noted that he’s already serving a lengthy sentence for a more serious matter.
A victim impact statement, prepared by the girl’s mother, was handed into court. It wasn’t read into the record but Judge Sheehan said it made for “very sad reading.”
She then handed down a four-year prison sentence.
Reporting by Frank Greaney