Controlling 'monster' sexually abused daughter and sister-in-law and rationed toilet paper, Limerick court hears

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A “PAEDOPHILE and monster” who sexually abused his daughter and his sister-in-law, who was a flower girl at his wedding, will be sentenced this week.

On Friday, Limerick Criminal Circuit Court heard of his “controlling, manipulative and mental abuse” including rationing toilet paper - one sheet for when his daughters were urinating and two sheets for when they were going to the toilet properly.

The accused - Christopher O’Mahony, aged 67, of Kerrykyle, Ardagh, County Limerick pleaded guilty to 10 sample indecent assaults and one sexual assault of his sister-in-law, and seven sample counts of sexual assault on his daughter. There were a total of 54 counts on the indictment.

The emergence of the sexual abuse has caused “civil war and complete fracture within the family”.

O’Mahony can be named after his daughter Emma O’Shaughnessy, now aged 42, and sister-in-law Helen Costelloe, now aged 51, waived their anonymity.

Prosecuting barrister Lily Buckley, instructed by State solicitor Brendan Gill, outlined the evidence with the assistance of Detective Garda James Muldowney, of the Limerick Divisional Protective Services Unit.

Ms Buckley said O’Mahony entered Ms Costelloe’s life after he married her sister and came to live in the family home in Ballyhahill while he built a house in Ardagh.

There is a 12-year age gap between Ms Costelloe and her sister who married O’Mahony.

Ms Buckley said the abuse started in 1983 when Ms Costelloe was nine and continued until 1989 when she was 15.

“Ms Costelloe was tasked with washing O’Mahony’s hair. They would be alone in the bathroom. He began touching her outside of her clothes, putting her hand on his penis, and using her hand to stroke his penis.

"While she was washing his hair, he would put his hand  back and touch her vagina through her clothes. He would avail of any opportunity he got to abuse her,” said Ms Buckley. O’Mahony told Ms Costelloe, “This would be our secret” and “You’re my girl”.

Ms Costelloe called a family meeting in July 2021 after telling a number of family members of the sexual abuse.

“Her niece Ms O’Shaughnessy was at the meeting and obviously became aware that her auntie had been abused by her father (O’Mahony). Ms O’Shaughnessy announced at this meeting that she too had been abused as a child by her father.

“Despite all the evidence emerging from the two victims, some members of the family struggled to accept the truth,” said Ms Buckley.

Det Garda Muldowney said there is a “split in the family”.

“There must be some hope that the truth acknowledged by the accused will help other family members see that truth and the terrible abuse perpetrated on their family members,” said Ms Buckley.

The prosecuting barrister then outlined the physical, mental and sexual abuse suffered by O’Mahony’s daughter Ms O’Shaughnessy which began in 1993 when she was 10 and ended in 1996 when she was 13.

Ms Buckley said Ms O’Shaughnessy had a rash on her back, with her father saying it was a “holy show” and began acting as her physician. He used this as an “excuse” to bring her into the bathroom and sexually assault her.

The court heard he would take off her bra, his hands “slithering” in between her thighs and masturbate her. This sexual abuse progressed to O’Mahony inserting his fingers into his daughter’s vagina.

Both Ms Costelloe and Ms O’Shaughnessy read out their own victim impact statements, while their abuser sat emotionless a few feet away.

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O’Mahony handed himself into Henry Street garda station three days after the family meeting and the investigation commenced.

Judge Sinead McMullan remanded O’Mahony in custody and said she will pass judgment this Thursday. O’Mahony was placed on the sex offenders register two weeks ago.

See tomorrow's Limerick Leader newspaper for full court report and victim impact statements