Dad accused of abusing daughter for over twenty years (Northern Ireland)

Notice there is no mention of a mother in the home. Was UNNAMED DAD a single or custodial father? Of course, there is no clarification here, which is typical.

http://www.u.tv/News/2015/04/14/Father-accused-of-abusing-daughter-for-over-20-years-35432

Father accused of abusing daughter for over 20 years
14 Apr 2015

A Belfast man has gone on trial, accused of subjecting his daughter to a "life of inappropriate sexual activity" which spanned over two decades.

The 64-year old man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of his daughter, has been charged with multiple counts of gross indecency, indecent assault and rape.

A jury at Belfast Crown Court heard allegations that the sexual offending against his daughter began when she was 11 and continued until she was aged 32, when she moved away from Northern Ireland.

Crown prosecutor Philip Mateer QC said the accused's behaviour towards his daughter was "exemplified by his domination and control over her ... and continued even after she became an adult."

The accused has been charged with a total of 16 offences which the Crown say were committed over a period from January 1987 to December 2007.

Mr Mateer QC told the jury that the abuse began during the girl's formative years, and that this abuse by her dominant father became a way of life for her.

The prosecutor said that even when she moved into her own home and had a child, her father would still have sex with her.

Telling the jury "she never consented to any of this behaviour", Mr Mateer said that when she said no to intercourse it "made no difference" and that the accused "carried on ... he wanted sex and that was it."

The court heard the woman, who is now 40, made a complaint to police on 13 July and that she referred to her the abuse as being a "vicious circle" and "normal" to her until she was able to "make the break" and leave Northern Ireland.

The jury heard that when the allegations made by his daughter were put to the accused, he claimed none of the incidents happened.

He subsequently pleaded not guilty to all the offences levelled against him and is currently standing trial at Belfast Crown Court.