Man appeals sentence for abusing three sisters over 18-year period

A 65-year-old Mayo man has appeared before the Court of Appeal to challenge the severity of his sentence for sexually abusing three sisters over an 18-year period beginning in 1976. The man was convicted in October 2017 by a Mayo Circuit Criminal Court jury on 19 counts of indecent assault against one sister and one count each against her two siblings. He received a concurrent seven-year prison sentence. His previous appeal against conviction was refused last month. During today's hearing, his barrister argued that the seven-year term was disproportionate and that the trial judge had erred in principle when assessing the gravity of offences against the middle sister. The barrister submitted the sentencing should have been placed in the mid-range rather than near the top of the scale. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Justice George Birmingham and including Justice John Edwards and Justice Patrick McCarthy, reserved its decision.