A man has been jailed for fifteen years for raping, sexually exploiting and neglecting his children in what a judge described as an “extremely disturbing” case.

Their mother was jailed for nine years for related offences, while their aunt and two of their uncles were also handed sentences for their roles in the abuse.

None of those sentenced today can be named in order to protect the identities of the children, all of whom are now in care.

Precise details of the abuse can’t be reported on either – again to protect the children.

The 10-week trial heard harrowing evidence of how they were sexually exploited, raped, beaten and neglected in the cruellest of ways on unknown dates in Munster between August 2014 and April 2016.

Despite evidence of intellectual difficulties, Mr Justice Paul McDermott said he’d no doubt the accused knew what they were doing was wrong.

He said they lied to and deceived social workers.

As parents, he described what they did as “the most profound breach of trust a human being can commit against their children”.

The father was jailed for 15 years. The same sentence was handed down to two of the children’s uncles. Their mother got nine years, while an aunt was jailed for three.