Pensioner's abuse conviction is upheld

A pensioner from Crolly, Co Donegal, has failed in his appeal against conviction for indecently assaulting a teenage boy over three decades ago. The 74-year-old man had been found guilty by jury at Donegal Circuit Criminal Court of six counts relating to offences committed between August 1989 and September 1990. He received a six-year sentence in June 2017, with the final two years suspended. The Court of Appeal today upheld the conviction, with the three-judge panel determining the trial judge was correct to allow the case proceed to jury despite defence objections. The appellate court rejected submissions regarding alleged inconsistencies in the complainant's evidence concerning when the abuse occurred, noting the core complaint remained consistent and was corroborated by additional evidence. The appeal was dismissed.