A man has been jailed for eight years for abusing his younger brother in Cork over a 10-year period.

The judge said the man, who cannot be named to protect his brother's identity, violated his trust in the cruelest of ways.

The abuse began in January 1988 when the now 45-year-old man was 14.

His brother was 10, and the court heard it happened regularly over the 10 years that followed.

Through a Victim Impact Statement, the man's brother described his abuser as a hero who had now become a villain.

Mr Justice Michael White said he had been used by his older brother for his own sexual gratification, and he noted the devastating impact it has had on him.

He said it was clear his younger brother trusted and looked up to him, and he said that trust was cruelly violated by him.

Mr Justice White noted the difficulties the man had in relation to his sexual orientation, but he said those difficulties were not of concern and had no impact on sexually abusive behaviour.

He accepted his acknowledgment of hurt caused to his brother and gave him credit for not putting him through the ordeal of having to give evidence.

He then handed down a 10 year sentence with the final two years suspended.

Reporting by Frank Greaney