A woman whose husband was convicted of raping her says she still lives in terror and has a deep fear of what will happen when he is released.

Speaking at his sentence hearing today, she also said she thought he was going to kill her when he beat her with a hammer in August 2014.

The woman returned to the witness box this morning having spent several days there during last month’s trial.

Her husband sat in the dock just over her right shoulder.

In April 2014, she told him she wanted a separation but said he refused to accept that their marriage was over.

The following month, she said he threatened her with a knife before forcing her to have sex with him.

It was not until he attacked both her and her mother with a hammer on August 7, 2014 that she decided to tell gardaí about the rape.

In her Victim Impact Statement today, she said she found it hard to even use the word “rape”.

“That night will stay with me forever,” she said.

She remains in counselling and fights sleep to avoid having nightmares about the night she was raped.

She said that she worries about what will happen when he is released.

In a letter addressed to the court, her husband apologised for the hammer attack, but made no reference to any of the other charges.

He also said he wanted his wife to know about the psychological pain and trauma that are now his constant companions.

He is due to be sentenced this day next week.