Man jailed for nine years for sexual assault of cousins

A man who sexually abused his two young cousins while he was babysitting has been jailed for nine years.

The court heard 55-year-old Edward McGregor of Weavers Square, Baltinglass, Co Wicklow, groomed the two girls and subjected them to repeated sexual assaults between 1986 and 1993.

The abuse took place when the sisters were aged between six and 13 years old.

McGregor was between 15 and 22 years old the court heard. But Judge Eileen Creedon noted that most of the more serious offences happened when McGregor was over 18.

Most of the abuse happened at the children's family home on Donard Avenue on Blackhorse Avenue in Dublin 7 while other assaults were carried out at McGregor’s then family home in Ballymun in Dublin.

McGregor pleaded guilty to the assaults on Frances McGregor and her sister, Caitriona Carr, last November as his trial was to get under way for the third time.

The women reported the abuse in 2019.

McGregor initially denied all the allegations.

A trial in 2024 did not go ahead as he was hospitalised with diabetes and he failed to show up for a second trial date in May 2025.

The court was later told he had gone into hospital after an incident of self harm.

He eventually pleaded guilty to 15 offences in November last year.

Additional reporting CCC Nuacht