A man who “poisoned” his daughter's youth with years of sexual abuse after they reconnected when she was a child has been jailed for 11 and a half years.
Cyril Mullane (51) was found guilty by a Central Criminal Court jury of 26 counts of sexually abusing his daughter Chloe Mullane on dates between June 2011 and September 2016, when she was aged between six and 12 years' old.
Mullane, with an address at Borefield, Strokestown, Co Roscommon, was found guilty of 11 counts of oral rape, 14 counts of sexual assault and one count of attempted rape at his then homes in Co Sligo and in Norfolk in the UK. He had denied the charges.
Ms Mullane waived her right to anonymity so her father could be named.
The court heard that she first met her father when she was six-years-old, after her mother reconnected with him following a brief relationship which resulted in her birth.
Ms Mullane then went to visit her father's home in Rainbow Cottage, Castlebaldwin, Co Sligo, and later to his home in Norfolk.
The court heard Mullane started abusing his daughter when she was six, with the abuse starting with inappropriate touching and progressing to oral rape. He attempted to anally rape her on one occasion when she was 12, the court heard.
The abuse ended when Ms Mullane threatened to tell her mother.
I am never able to look into the mirror and not see his face.
In her victim impact statement, which was read out at a previous sentence hearing, Ms Mullane said the abuse left her feeling confused and isolated as a child, and she has struggled to form relationships as an adult.
She added that she felt like “damaged goods” as a result of the abuse she suffered at the hands of her father.
“I am never able to look into the mirror and not see his face, or see him standing behind me,” she said.
Sentencing Mullane on Monday, Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo said Ms Mullane's youth “was poisoned by the abuse to which she was subjected”.
“She is still struggling to get over it,” he added.
The judge said a sad aspect of the case was that Ms Mullane was initially excited to have her father back in her life, and that she continued to wish for a normal relationship with him, even as he continued to abuse her.
The judge noted a number of aggravating factors, including the “elevated degradation” of the sexual abuse, given her young age. He noted it was a significant breach of trust, and the abuse occurred over a five-year period, capturing most of Ms Mullane's childhood.
In mitigation, the judge noted Mullane has no serious previous convictions, aside from some minor road traffic offences. “However, given the persistent nature of the offending, it can't be said that he is a person of previously good character.”
The judge also noted Mullane did not plead guilty to the offences.
The court heard Mullane is now married with two sons.
The judge handed down a sentence of 13 years, suspending the final 18 months of the sentence on a number of conditions.
If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at drcc.ie/services/helpline/ or visit Rape Crisis Help.
