2021-01-28 · Wexford
One-year jail sentence for oral rape of half-sister
Bernard Maguire, aged 29, was sentenced to a one‑year jail term for orally raping his younger half‑sister, Bethany Maguire, when she was six to seven and he was fifteen to sixteen. The offences occurred between September 2006 and September 2008 at their father's home. Maguire pleaded guilty before the Central Criminal Court. The court noted the serious nature of the offence, the breach of trust by an older sibling, and the age gap as aggravating factors, while also considering Maguire's immediate admissions, remorse, and youth at the time. The judge imposed a two‑year sentence with the final year suspended, subject to conditions including participation in the Better Lives program. Bethany waived her right to anonymity, allowing the parties' names to be published. The case was heard under the Children Act, with the victim's impact statement highlighting lasting trauma and fear of her brother. The sentence reflects the court's assessment of the offence's gravity and the defendant's circumstances.