Accused C’s sentence hearing could not proceed in his absence

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

The sentence hearing for Accused C, one of four men convicted of sexually abusing a deaf relative, could not proceed in his absence. The court heard that he had broken his bail conditions and gardaí did not know his whereabouts. The proceedings were reported on 13 July 2026.

The men denied all charges. The trial took place before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs at the Central Criminal Court.

On 9 June, the jury found Accused C guilty by a majority verdict of anally raping his younger sister, Complainant 3, when she was a child, between September 2010 and September 2014. On 10 June, it found him guilty by majority verdict of nine further counts: sexually assaulting Complainant 2 between 2005 and 2006, raping her twice between 2015 and 2018, and three rapes, two anal rapes and a sexual assault against the main complainant between 2003 and 2010.

The jury also convicted Accused B, the main complainant’s uncle, of three rapes and one anal rape between 2006 and 2014. Her brother Accused E was convicted of two anal rapes between 2007 and 2009, and another brother, Accused F, of one rape in that period.

Jurors could not agree on a further rape charge against Accused F or rape charges against two uncles, Accused A and Accused G. On 13 July, the Director of Public Prosecutions withdrew the charges against A and G. Charges against another brother, Accused D, had been withdrawn during the trial.

Defence counsel said psychological reports for E and F would not be ready until October. Pleas in mitigation for the three other convicted men were scheduled for a further sentence hearing on 19 October.