ANDREW DURRAN SHOCKS DUBLIN WITH HORRIFIC CRIME AGAINST HIS DAUGHTER
In a case that has sent shockwaves through the Dublin community, Andrew Durran, a 41-year-old man, has been sentenced to six years in prison for the heinous crime of sexually abusing his own teenage daughter.The incident took place during a house party at a residence on Parlickstown Drive, Mulhuddart, Dublin, on January 21, 2007, and has left a lasting scar on the victim, now 22 years old.
According to court proceedings, the victim, who chose to waive her right to anonymity to publicly name her father, recounted the traumatic events that unfolded that night.
Durran, who previously resided at Dromheath Avenue, Blanchardstown, Dublin, had fled Ireland in 2009 amid the investigation but was apprehended in Spain in December 2012 under a European Arrest Warrant.
Since his extradition, he has been in custody, awaiting sentencing.
The court heard that Durran, a father of seven with a criminal record that includes 16 previous convictions for road traffic offences and a five-year sentence for assault in 1994, had lost contact with his daughter from when she was ten years old until a few months prior to the assault, following his separation from her mother.
Their renewed contact occurred in November 2006 when the girl obtained his phone number through a cousin.
Detective Garda Tom Cooney provided details of the events, explaining that Durran had separated from another partner around New Year’s Eve 2006.
During this period, he stayed at a friend’s house on Parlickstown Drive, where he hosted a party.
At this gathering, Durran allowed his then 15-year-old daughter to consume six glasses of vodka mixed with Red Bull.
The teenager, feeling intoxicated, went upstairs to a spare room she shared with her father and lay on the bed in her underwear.
Shortly thereafter, she heard her father enter the room, get into bed, and proceed to manipulate her.
He turned her over, pulled her underwear down, and then, in a disturbing sequence, pulled her on top of him and engaged in sexual intercourse.
The young girl later told police that she kept her eyes closed and said nothing during the assault, overwhelmed by fear and confusion.
In a heartfelt letter read aloud in court, the victim expressed her feelings of betrayal and the lasting impact of her father’s actions.
She described feeling a false sense of the father-daughter bond when they reconnected, believing that her father cared for her, but she now recognizes the warning signs she missed at the time.
She detailed how her father’s interest in her increased despite her having other siblings and how he emotionally groomed her by buying her alcohol and cigarettes.
The woman, who is now a mother of three, described the night of the assault as “the worst night of my life” and likened it to “something out of a horror film.” She expressed her anguish, stating, “The day my father will walk free, I will be serving the life sentence he imposed on me.” She also shared her ongoing struggles with sleep, her discomfort around men, and the deep depression that can strike unexpectedly.
During the sentencing hearing, Detective Garda Cooney concurred with the defense’s argument that Durran had not contested extradition from Spain and appeared almost relieved to be incarcerated.
The defense, led by Caroline Biggs SC, explained that Durran pleaded guilty to avoid subjecting his daughter to the ordeal of giving evidence in court.
Ms.
Biggs described her client as “depressed, isolated, and suicidal” while in Spain and suggested that even after his release, he would continue to be mentally imprisoned.
Judge Mary Ellen Ring acknowledged the profound and lifelong impact of the crime on the victim.
She emphasized that Durran, knowing his daughter’s vulnerability, committed one of the most fundamental breaches of trust in life.
The judge sentenced him to seven years in prison, backdated to December 2012 when he was taken into custody.
The final 12 months of this sentence were suspended, and Durran was ordered to undergo post-release supervision for one year and follow any recommended treatment programs.
It was also noted that Durran had previously been registered as a sex offender, underscoring the severity of his criminal history.
