A Co. Tipperary man, named as Mr John Doyle, aged 49 years, was convicted of two counts of rape and four counts of sexual assault; following a Central Criminal Court trial, latter held in Co. Wexford, last November, 2023.
The offences are understood to have taken place in the family home, situated at Littleton, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, between the years 2006 and 2017.
The court heard today that Mr Doyle’s three victims; his two daughters and his niece, have all waived their right to anonymity, in order that he be publicly named.
Mr Doyle has denied any wrongdoing and maintains his innocence.
On imposing his sentence, Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford presiding described Mr Doyle’s offences as “a significant breach of trust of the gravest kind”.
Ms Justice Lankford imposed concurrent sentences of 12 years on the rape counts, with the final one-year suspended on strict conditions. She backdated the sentences to November 17th last, while he was held in custody, and directed him to remain away from his three victims for five years, after his release from prison.
Ms Justice Lankford also placed Mr Doyle under the supervision of the Probation Services, for this same five year period, to aid his rehabilitation.
Both of Mr Doyle’s daughters claimed that he threatened to kill himself, if they, the victims told anyone what had happened. There was also a suggestion that they would be offered money, to ensure that they remained silent on the matter.
Mr Doyle also stood accused of separately sexually assaulted his then 14-year-old niece, while she was babysitting for an aunt, latter who lived next door to Mr Doyle’s private residence.
The Court heard that Mr Doyle, a father of seven, has previously four convictions for road traffic offences.
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