Two sisters, who were sexually abused by their stepfather, have expressed their relief at finally being believed.
Fifty five year old Tipperary man John Joe Patterson was jailed for six and a half years yesterday for sexually abusing his stepdaughters over a 10-year period from when they were both aged nine.
Despite his admissions of guilt to gardai, and his subsequent conviction at Nenagh Circuit Court, his wife Francis, who is also the girls mother, has stood by her husband.
Emma and Vanessa Witherow waived their right to anonymity so that Patterson could be named in the media.
Speaking outside the court after the sentence was imposed, the two sisters expressed their relief at finally being believed:
