A Kerry man has been jailed for five and a half years for the sexual abuse of his step-daughter over a number of years.
51-year-old Yves Deniel of Gearha, Farranfore, was sentenced at Tralee Circuit Court on charges of sexual assault and sexual exploitation against his step-daughter Roisin Conway.
Judge Ronan Munro said Ms Conway, now in her 20s, is a credit to herself and has an innate resilience which he compared to the famous explorer Tom Crean.
Ms Conway waived her right to anonymity, meaning Mr Deniel can now be identified.
Mr Deniel began sexually assaulting his step-daughter when she was in primary school; the court heard the sexual assaults were terribly frequent, continuing for a number of years.
The court heard he later began to initiate sexual conversations with the girl while she was a teenager, relentlessly propositioning her to get involved in sexual acts with him, and putting appalling pressure and sophisticated manipulation on her.
The court heard this pressure included threats that he would harm himself if she did not comply, and turning the heating off in her room.
Investigating garda Sgt James Hurley said Ms Conway made the brave decision to leave the family home for her own safety.
Yves Deniel initially denied the charges but changed his plea to guilty during the trial, after Ms Conway had given a full day’s evidence.
Ms Conway said from the age of 11 when he started assaulting her, she felt scared, embarrassed, and confused.
She said when she was very young she started to wish she was dead, that she would cry herself to sleep and wished she wouldn’t wake up.
She said she thought the abuse was her fault, and had to withdraw a statement she made about the abuse over ten years ago.
Ms Conway said the DPP initially decided not to prosecute due to a lack of evidence, but she put effort into appealing that decision while she should have been studying for her fifth year exams.
Judge Munro said Mr Deniel treated her like a sexual object, despite being a father figure.
Judge Munro said Mr Deniel’s letter of apology was tepid and failed to mention his stepdaughter by name, nor was it addressed to her.
Addressing Mr Deniel, he said, “You knew she wasn’t lying, you got her to brandish herself a liar".
He said it’s in the public interest Mr Deniel engages in sex offenders treatment in prison, as he must have underlying problems to sexually attack a child.
The judge said Ms Conway had made the world a safer place by coming forward, for all the other women Mr Deniel might encounter.
Judge Munro said it baffles him how she managed to survive, to the same level he is baffled how the legendary explorer Tom Crean survived on his Antarctic expedition.
He jailed Mr Deniel for eight years, with the final two and a half years suspended.
* If you are affected, you may contact Kerry Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre on 087 9739065 or freephone 1800 633 333.
