Army sergeant jailed for sexually abusing his wife’s niece

An army sergeant who sexually abused his wife’s young niece over a period of six years has been sentenced to seven years in prison.

Anthony Canning (74), of Fadden, Carrig, Birr, Co Offaly, pleaded guilty before the Central Criminal Court to two counts of indecent assault, three counts of sexual assault and one count of oral rape of Celine Daly between 21 December 1987 and December 1993.

Prosecutor James Dwyer SC said Ms Daly, who was aged between seven and 13 at the time of the offences, wished to waive her anonymity in the case so that Canning’s name could be used.

Canning, who was married to Ms Dalys’ aunt, was between 37 and 43 years old at the time of the abuse, which took place in his home.

Ms Daly read her own victim impact statement, which said: “I stand before you not as a victim, but as a survivor.”

“Maybe I get emotional, but that’s because someone is finally listening to me.” She described her home as happy and safe and that she “didn’t know fear, but that changed when I was seven.”

She said the defendant held “a position of trust in our family” and “you took advantage of that position to gain access to me.”

“I held back and lived in fear, but that’s over now.” She said the abuse “left many emotional scars that no one can see.”

“I couldn’t have gotten through this without my partner. I’ve learned to trust again, but it’s not without its difficulties.”

The woman described it this way: “I feel safe for the first time since I was seven years old, and that is a strange feeling for me.”

The woman concluded by saying, “I see now that it was not my fault and that it was not my fault, but yours. I finally feel like I am being listened to and believed. The night I spoke to the police changed my life. I hope you now feel the shame and guilt that I have lived with my whole life.”

Judge Tony Hunt said: “I hope this statement helps you heal the wounds and move on with the rest of your life.”

He said Ms Daly’s victim impact statement was “open and direct” about the long-term effects of sexual abuse, but also the “positive impact” of disclosing to the gardaí.

“A successful outcome can shift the burden of shame and guilt back where it belongs: on the shoulders of the accused,” said Judge Hunt.

He set the sentence at 10 years, taking into account the age difference between Canning and Ms Daly and the fact that the abuse took place in an “extension of their home”, adding that a child should feel safe when visiting a relative’s home.

Judge Hunt said the offences amounted to “serious misconduct towards a young family member over a prolonged period of time”.

He acknowledged that Canning’s guilty plea was of considerable benefit to Ms Daly and said it would have been “traumatic” for her to have to describe the details of the abuse to a jury of 12 strangers.

Judge Hunt acknowledged Canning’s good professional record and lack of previous convictions before sentencing him to seven years in prison for oral rape.

Detective Garda James Kingston told Mr Dwyer that Ms Daly was seven years old when Canning began abusing her.

He said Ms Daly regularly called Canning’s home most Saturdays and remembered being alone with him in the house. She later told police that Canning initially touched her breasts and vagina during the abuse.

The court heard that Canning was on duty in Lebanon at the time.

Ms Daly also told police that in the last sexual abuse incident, Canning forced the girl to perform oral sex on him. She said she was 11 or 12 at the time and Canning gave her instructions on what to do.

Ms Daly told a friend about the abuse when she stayed overnight at their home as a young teenager. The incident was later reported to police and Canning was eventually brought in for questioning in April 2021.

Canning told the Garda that he spent his childhood in an orphanage and served in the armed forces, completing four tours in Lebanon.

He initially denied the allegations but later admitted that he had touched Ms Daly. He claimed he had not touched her sexually.

Canning was scheduled to go on trial in February this year, but pleaded guilty before the jury was selected.

Det Gda Kingston supported Coleman Cody SC’s defence by stating that his client had not previously come to the attention of the Garda, had co-operated with the Garda investigation and had always complied with the conditions of his bail.

Mr. Cody read a short letter of apology from his client to the court: “I would like to apologize to you and your family for all the pain and stress I have caused you.”

Mr Cody said the court had a very positive probation report which assessed his client’s risk of reoffending as low. He explained that the defendant had shown remorse for his actions and had pleaded guilty.

The lawyer said his client was in the Army for nearly 37 years and was a sergeant, serving four tours overseas. He said his client had alcohol problems in the past but had been sober since 1997.

Counsel said that as a result of these charges and the investigation, his client suffers from anxiety and depression and has attempted suicide. Apart from these matters, he has never come to the attention of the Garda. He is supported by his ex-wife, partner and children.

He asked the court to give his client some hope when formulating the sentence and to consider suspending part of the sentence.

If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national Rape Crisis Helpline 24 hours a day on 1800-77 8888, access the SMS service and webchat options at drcc.ie/services/helpline/ or visit Rape Crisis Help.