Yesterday, a 61-year-old Limerick man was jailed for 15 years for the rape and sexual assault of his niece.
The Central Criminal Court heard that victim Sonya Stokes, now aged 37, had waived her right to anonymity.
In a victim impact report - read to the court - she said Joseph Hogan of Rose Court, Keyes Park in Limerick City - had stolen her “innocence, her childhood and her trust in relationships”.
61-year-old Joseph Hogan was last month convicted of one count of attempted rape, three counts of rape and three counts of indecent assault at a house in Limerick between December 1984 and 1988.
This afternoon, Sonya Stokes spoke to Jonathan about her reasons for coming forward with the information: "What I wanted to do was get the name out there and leave (sic) people know that we done was 100% wrong and make sure he will never again do it to another child when he got out.
"They should be named more easily. Victims like myself should have nothing to be ashamed of. After all, it was their innocence that was stolen."
She urged any victims to come forward: "I might have been a little girl but I never ever forget what he did to me all those years ago.
"Please come forward, seek justice. You will never be able to erase the past."
You can listen back to her interview here:
