Courts / Tipperary / Report
Victim thought sexual abuse was "normal" until she watched TV programme, court hears
Summary
A woman who had been sexually abused by her uncle between 1986 and 1988, when she was aged seven to nine, had her appeal against a 10‑year conviction dismissed in its entirety. The uncle, a Tipperary man in his forties at the time, had pleaded not guilty to eight counts of indecent assault and three counts of rape. The Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty and Justice Margaret Heneghan sentenced him to 10 years in prison on 23 October 2015. In the appeal hearing, Justice Alan Mahon noted that the complainant had delayed reporting the abuse because she thought it was normal, a belief she later questioned after watching a television programme. The court rejected the appeal, stating that any inadmissible evidence regarding the complainant's conversation with a school friend had no effect on the jury's verdict. The appeal was dismissed.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Victim thought sexual abuse was "normal" until she watched TV programme, court hears. Charges or matters: eight counts of indecent assault and three counts of rape at various locations on dates between May 1986 and August 1988 when she was aged between seven and nine and he was in his mid to late forties. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- May 1986 Incident
- August 1988 Incident
- October 23, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2016-12-09 Publication
Why: She answered: "Because it was family, mainly, and first of all, I did not realise there was anything wrong. CNI source report
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: eight counts of indecent assault and three counts of rape at various locations on dates between May 1986 and August 1988 when she was aged between seven and nine and he was in his mid to late forties (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: He was unanimously found guilty by a Central Criminal Court jury and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment by Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan on October 23, 2015.
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
Topics
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