Pensioner who raped his daughter has jail sentence tripled on appeal
The Court of Appeal has tripled the jail sentence of a 74 year old Dublin man in ill health who repeatedly raped his daughter when she was a child. Patrick O'Brien of Mackintosh Park, Pottery Road in Dun Laoighaire will now serve 9 years in prison after pleading guilty to the abuse of Fiona Doyle between 1973 to 1982. In 2013 Patrick O'Brien was given a 12 year sentence for what was described as one of the worst cases of sexual abuse one could possibly find. However because of his age and ill health 9 years his sentence were suspended and he was granted bail pending an appeal - a move which sparked uproar. Last month the Court of Appeal ruled the suspended portion of the 74 year old's sentence was too lenient despite his ill health - which can be accommodated behind bars. Today the court presided over by its President Sean Ryan imposed a new sentence of 12 years with 3 years suspended - essentially tripling the jail time of Patrick O'Brien. However the judge did note that if his health further declines the executive has the power to grant remission.