Accused C’s sentence hearing unable to proceed after bail breach

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

A sentence hearing for Accused C, who was convicted of sexually abusing three of his sisters, could not proceed in his absence after he broke his bail conditions, the Central Criminal Court heard. Gardaí had no information about his whereabouts. The proceedings were reported on 13 July 2026.

A warrant had been issued after he failed to appear for the remaining verdicts in June. Ms Justice Caroline Biggs had allowed him to remain on bail after the first guilty verdict, when defence counsel said he needed time to settle his affairs.

Accused C had denied the charges. The jury found him guilty of six counts concerning the main complainant: three of rape, two of anal rape and one of sexual assault, committed between 2003 and 2010. It also convicted him of four counts concerning two other sisters: one sexual assault between 2005 and 2006 and two rapes between 2015 and 2018 against Complainant 2, and one anal rape of Complainant 3 between September 2010 and September 2014.

Three other men were convicted. Accused B, the main complainant’s uncle, was convicted 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, was convicted of one rape in the same period. The jury could not agree on a further rape count against Accused F.

The jury also could not agree on rape charges against two other uncles, Accused A and Accused G. Those charges were withdrawn by the Director of Public Prosecutions on 13 July. Charges against another brother, Accused D, had been withdrawn during the trial.

Defence counsel said psychological reports for Accused E and Accused F would not be ready until October. Pleas in mitigation for the three convicted men who were before the court were scheduled for 19 October 2026.