Donegal jury "pressured" into returning verdict during "atrocious" weather, court told

A man convicted of indecently assaulting a fourteen-year-old babysitter in Ballyshannon in 1980 has appealed his conviction at the Court of Appeal, claiming the jury was pressurised into returning a guilty verdict. Patrick Patton, aged 65, of Cashelard, Ballyshannon, pleaded not guilty to three counts of indecent assault. A jury at Donegal Circuit Criminal Court unanimously acquitted him on two counts but returned a ten-two majority guilty verdict on the first count following a four-day trial. He was sentenced to fourteen months imprisonment in April 2019. His barrister argued the jury was pressurised to continue deliberating on a Friday evening when severe weather warnings were in place and despite jurors appearing ready to leave. The trial judge had instructed them to persevere on the disputed count after they had already acquitted on the other charges. The Director of Public Prosecutions' counsel contended the jury had not expressed concern and the weather argument remained speculative. Judgement has been reserved.