‘I am never able to look in the mirror and not see his face’ – woman abused by father waives anonymity to reveal six-year ordeal as he’s jailed

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 aged six, 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 from the age of six, with the abuse starting with inappropriate touching and progressing to oral rape. He attempted to rape her on one occasion when she was aged 12.

The abuse ended when Ms Mullane threatened to tell her mother about the abuse.

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 as an adult she struggled to form relationships.

She said 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 today, 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 said.

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 the 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.

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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.”

He 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. He suspended the final 18 months of this sentence on a number of conditions.

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