A Court of Appeal in Ireland has increased a former priest’s prison sentence for sexually abusing three sisters, raising his term to 14 years. The victims described the decision as a “profound moment of justice and vindication” as the Court of Appeal agreed with the State that the original eight-year sentence was unduly lenient. The case centred on abuse carried out over a prolonged period against the three sisters, involving repeated rape, indecent assault, exploitation of vulnerable children, and a breach of familial trust. The man, aged 65, entered guilty pleas at the Central Criminal Court in March 2025, on the ninth day of the trial, after each of the three women had given evidence before a jury and before the final victim was due for cross-examination. He pleaded guilty to 24 counts, including 18 charges of indecent assault and six charges of rape. He had been ordained as a priest in 1989 and later moved to the United States, before returning to Ireland for questioning and trial. In July 2025, he was originally sentenced to a global term of nine years with the final 12 months suspended. The Director of Public Prosecutions then sought a review, arguing the sentence was too lenient. Today’s Court of Appeal ruling resentenced him to 14 years in prison, with Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy saying the original term failed to reflect the gravity of the offending. Victims outside court welcomed the outcome, saying the increased sentence properly recognised the scale and lifelong impact of the abuse.