Former soldier jailed for abuse

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A former solider has received one of the heaviest sentences ever handed down in Northern Ireland for child abuse.

He was jailed for 20 years for abusing girls as young as seven while based in Northern Ireland, including his own nine-year-old daughter.

The 38-year-old cannot be named to protect the identity of his victims.

Craigavon Crown Court Judge Patrick Markey told him he had betrayed a sacred trust and the fundamental duty of a father to protect his child.

Relatives of the victims said they are happy with the sentence, and felt that justice had been done.

The man was also jailed for downloading indecent images of children from the internet.

The location of where he was based at the time of the offences cannot be released to also protect the identity of his victims.