Dad jailed for abuse of daughter

A FATHER WHO SUBJECTED HIS DAUGHTER TO YEARS OF SEXUAL ABUSE WHICH BEGAN AT THE AGE OF SIX HAS BEEN JAILED AT THE CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.

A survivor of sexual abuse was just 11 when she wrote a letter to her mother that uncovered the shocking trauma inflicted on her by her father.

Chloe Mullane (19) waited seven years for justice after being raped by her father from the age of just six.

She spoke out after her father Cyril Mullane (51) was jailed for 11-and-a-half years at the Central Criminal Court for the prolonged abuse of his daughter some of which took place in their County Sligo home.

Ms Mullane revealed that she was only 11 when she first reported the abuse after a letter to her mother signified that he was forcing her to touch him.

When asked why she decided to waive her anonymity in the case, Ms Mullane said: “I did it in the hope that other survivors of sexual abuse might come forward when they hear about my case.

“I want to give a little bit of hope for other survivors that these people can be punished.

“My mum and myself have been fighting this case for almost eight years. We hope this day will be a new chapter in our lives.”

Cyril Mullane had no involvement in the first six years of his daughter’s life.

As soon as he was invited to spend time with the little girl, he embarked on a campaign of abuse.

In January, a Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty of 26 counts of sexually abusing Chloe on dates between June 2011 and September 2016, when she was aged between six and 12.

AFATHER who “poisoned” his daughter’s youth with years of sexual abuse after they reconnected when she was a child has been jailed for 11 and a half years. 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 County 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 anally 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.

Mullane had no involvement in the first six years of his daughter’s life.

As soon as he was invited to spend time with the little girl, he embarked on a campaign of abuse.

In January, a Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty of 26 counts of sexually abusing Chloe on dates between June 2011 and September 2016, when she was aged between six and 12.

Father-of-three Mullane 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 Norfolk in the UK. He had denied the charges.

To compound the stress that Ms Mullane had to deal with, this was the third time the trial had come before the courts.

It had previously been adjourned because of the Covid pandemic, while a jury failed to reach a verdict in the case at another court hearing.

Cyril Mullane still insists he is not guilty of the offences which Ms Mullane said led to her making seven attempts on her life as well as multiple selfharm incidents.

That has led to scarring on her arms, shoulders and legs.

Now based in the UK, Ms Mullane said she would not have been able to survive the campaign of abuse by her father without the support of her network of family and friends.

That support network was led by her mother Naomi and a son of Cyril Mullane’s from another relationship, Patrick.

Ms Mullane also praised the investigation work and support that she received from gardaí and police in Norfolk, England, who she originally made her criminal complaint to.

“I am pretty scarred,” she said. “At one stage I pulled all my hair out. I hope there are no other victims of my father but I don’t know.”

Welcoming the prison sentence handed down to her father, she said she “had no idea why he did what he did”.

“Me and my mum came to the conclusion years ago that his brain was wired differently to normal people,” she said.

“I remember almost every incident of the abuse and this started when I was six years old.”

She described the sentence handed down to her abuser as a “relief ” – welcoming the fact that he will not be around children for many years because he will be “in jail, where he belongs”.

I never want to see him again,” said Ms Mullane, who now hopes to spend more time in Ireland, especially with her family and friends in Co Roscommon.

Her mother and father had a nine-month relationship. He moved away following the break-up of the relationship, while Naomi was pregnant.

When Chloe was six, her father began visiting her home to get to know her. She would then stay with him.

However, instead of the normal loving relationship she wanted, the court heard her childhood years were poisoned.

She spoke of being left “confused, isolated and angry”.

She would visit her father’s home in Rainbow Cottage, Castlebaldwin, Co Sligo. Later, she made visits to his home in Norfolk.

Sentencing Cyril Mullaneon Monday, 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 added that a sad aspect of the case was that Ms Mullane was initially excited to have her father back in her life.

She continued to wish for a normal relationship with him, even as he 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 took place over a five-year period, capturing most of Ms Mullane’s childhood.

The judge handed down a sentence of 13 years. He suspended the final 18 months of the sentence on a number of conditions.

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.

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.

I REMEMBER ALMOST EVERY INCIDENT OF ABUSE AND THIS STARTED WHEN I WAS SIX YEARS OLD...I NEVER WANT TO SEE HIM AGAIN