A convicted sex offender who tried to abduct a girl in Co Laois claims he has been assaulted in prison for what he did.

Michael Martin of Shandon Court, Yellow Road in Waterford City was jailed for 13 years today in what the judge described as an "attack on family life".

"Disturbing" was the word used by Judge Keenan Johnson to describe what Martin did near Cullahill village in Laois on March 4th last.

In a victim impact statement, the girl's father said a big part of her innocence was stolen that day, and they moved back to the US because they no longer felt safe here.

If he had the option, Judge Johnson today said he would have imposed a life sentence - not as a punishment but rather to protect society from the 36-year-old.

The court heard he snatched an 11-year-old girl and bundled her into his jeep in front of her younger twin brothers - one of whom held onto the driver's door, in a brave move that allowed his sister to escape.

Despite the terrifying ordeal, the boy even had the presence of mind to check the jeep's registration as it drove away from the quite country road.

His brave actions distracted him long enough for her to escape, and Martin was arrested the following day.

Garda Anne Marie Deegan says the children deserve high-praise for their swift action.

Michael Martin has 92 previous convictions, including one for sexually assaulting a young girl in 1999 and one for false imprisonment.

He claims that while in custody he has beaten up by other prisoners for what he did.

Before jailing him, Judge Johnson ordered prison authorities to provide whatever protection they can - amid fears he may be targeted even more now that he is sentenced.

He was sentenced to 17 years today, with the final four years suspended.

Newstalk.com's courts correspondent Frank Greaney was in court today, and spoke earlier to the Pat Kenny Show.