PATICK O’DRISCOLL SENTENCED IN MACROOM, CO CORK FOR HORRIFIC ABUSE OF HIS DAUGHTER

In a case that has shocked the community of Macroom and the wider Co Cork region, Patrick O’Driscoll, aged 42, has been sentenced to nine years in prison following his conviction on 61 counts of raping his eldest daughter, Ellen. The heinous crimes took place over a period spanning 2008 and 2009, during which the young woman was between the ages of 16 and 17. O’Driscoll, a father of nine, had steadfastly denied the allegations throughout the trial, which culminated in a jury’s unanimous verdict of guilt.

During the sentencing hearing at the Central Criminal Court, Justice Paul Butler delivered a powerful statement emphasizing the devastating impact of O’Driscoll’s actions on his family. He remarked that the abuse had “tore the family apart,” highlighting the deep divisions that had emerged within the household. Justice Butler pointed out that the victim’s mother, along with her sisters, grandparents, uncles, and aunts, had all taken the father’s side, which compounded the trauma and isolation experienced by Ellen.

In addressing the court, Justice Butler expressed a measure of sympathy for O’Driscoll, noting that he had led an otherwise “blameless life” and appeared to be providing adequately for his remaining family members. As part of the sentence, he sentenced O’Driscoll to ten years in prison, with the final year suspended on certain conditions, including a strict prohibition on any contact with his daughter. The court acknowledged the gravity of the crimes while also considering the defendant’s personal circumstances.

The victim, Ellen O’Driscoll, who is now 24 years old, was not present in court for the sentencing. She had previously waived her right to anonymity, choosing to speak out about her ordeal. In a heartfelt victim impact statement submitted to the court, she described her life as being “serving a life sentence” since she came forward with her allegations. Ellen detailed how her entire family, including her eight siblings, had turned against her, leaving her isolated from her community and loved ones.

“It has torn my family apart,” she stated. “My mam, sisters, brothers, uncles, and aunts all took his side. So I have no family now.” She expressed her feelings of betrayal and pain, emphasizing that she did not blame her siblings, understanding the confusion and trauma they experienced, but she could never forgive her mother for her stance.

The trial, which lasted a week in November, revealed harrowing details of Ellen’s experiences. She recounted that her father subjected her to weekly assaults from the time she was 16, often when her mother was out shopping and she was left to care for her younger siblings. She described a particularly traumatic incident where her father ordered her into her parents’ bedroom, tied her hands behind her back, spread her legs, placed a pillow over her face, and raped her. She recalled his chilling words afterward: “I’ve missed this. I won’t go without it anymore,” and how he then acted as if nothing had happened.

Throughout her testimony, Ellen described how her father’s abuse extended beyond the physical acts. She was prevented from attending school, forced to stay at home to do chores, cook, and look after her younger siblings, effectively living a restricted and oppressive life. She also revealed that her father had threatened her with death and self-harm if she ever disclosed the abuse, warning her that she would never see her family again if she did. As a result, she has been estranged from her siblings ever since.

During the trial, both her mother and father vociferously denied her allegations, leading the judge to issue warnings against disruptive outbursts. At one point, her mother loudly exclaimed “that’s a load of shit” from the public gallery, further highlighting the tense and emotional atmosphere in the courtroom.

In her victim impact statement, read aloud by Garda Michael Dolan, Ellen expressed her deep longing for her siblings, describing their bond as very close before the abuse tore them apart. “We were very close siblings but it was taken away by a very sick man,” she said. “I feel I’m serving a life sentence, even though I didn’t do anything wrong. I will be living half a life for the rest of my life.”

Defense counsel Thomas Creed SC stated that O’Driscoll’s family supported him and were “shocked and saddened by his conviction,” emphasizing their continued love and support for him despite the allegations. After the sentencing was announced, O’Driscoll acknowledged his family by waving before being led away to begin his prison term, leaving behind a community divided and a victim seeking justice and healing.