Barry Murphy appeals rape and coercive control convictions

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

Barry Murphy appealed his rape and coercive control convictions at the Court of Appeal on 15 October 2026, arguing that Lisa O’Meara’s lack of recollection prevented meaningful cross-examination. The offences were committed in Co Offaly, apart from one assault abroad.

Murphy’s lawyers argued that the trial judge should not have admitted video recordings of O’Meara’s Garda interviews, and that the case should not have gone to the jury. The appeal judges questioned those arguments, including whether O’Meara could have been questioned about her statements. The court reserved judgment.