co down prison officer Rapist

September 2004 Former prison guard gets 17 years for raping his sister and young daughter A FORMER prison officer who subjected his sister and daughter to a “campaign of rape” was jailed for 17 years yesterday and put on the sex offenders register for life.

Downpatrick Crown Court judge Mr Justice Gillen said he had thought of jailing the 62-year-old man for life, but did not feel it appropriate to impose such an indeterminate sentence.

The Co Down man who cannot be identified to protect his victims, was convicted in May of a total of 11 sex abuse charges, including the rape and indecent assault of his daughter and the rape of his sister going back 30 years.

Jailing the former warder at Belfast’s Laganside Court Mr Justice Gillen said that despite his age, the man might still represent a danger to children – even his own grandchildren.

His daughter and sister wept in court as the judge said that while the man had shown no remorse, his victims had displayed enormous courage in giving evidence against them.

Following the sentencing they said while it was “somewhat of a relief” the case was over and justice done, his 17-year sentence “will never equate with the devastation this has had on our lives and that of our family”.

The man initially preyed on his then 18-year-old sister, raping her in January, 1974 while she visited his home.

The following year, in January 1975 he turned his perverted attentions to his then six-year-old daughter.

Over the next five years he continued to rape and indecently assault her.

The judge said the man’s perverted crimes were further aggravated because he had not spared his daughter or his sister “the ordeal and public humiliation” of having to give evidence thereby reliving their dreadful experiences.

Mr Justice Gillen said that victim impact reports also revealed the devastating effect his abuse and that his daughter may from time to time have to receive one-to-one counselling for the rest of her life.

He added that this not only highlighted “the chilling gravity of the offences – but to underline the enormous courage displayed” by them in giving evidence.

Other aggravating features in the case, said the judge, included the fact that the abuse was “deliberate and continued over a lengthy period” – he had betrayed a position of trust and both his victims suffered huge psychological damage.

Mr Justice Gillen said there was little in mitigation save that he had no criminal record.