Courts / Dublin / Report
Legal academic jailed for sexual abuse launches action over prison disciplinary sanction
Summary
Legal academic Brian Doolan, who was convicted in 2016 on 42 of 44 charges of sexual abuse, including 11 counts of rape, of a male, has launched a High Court challenge regarding a prison disciplinary sanction. Doolan, who taught law at the Dublin Institute of Technology, is currently serving a 12-year sentence with two years suspended at Arbour Hill Prison. He is challenging a finding by the Prison Governor that he breached prison rules by instructing his son to post comments on his website criticising the victim's support group, "One in Four," and the complainant. The Governor imposed a 30-day ban on phone calls and visitors. Doolan's counsel, Feichin McDonagh SC, argued that the conduct did not disrupt prison order, was not covered by prison rules, and that procedural fairness was breached because a transcript of the relevant phone calls was provided only after the hearing. Additionally, Doolan contends that the appeal procedure violates his constitutional and European Convention on Human Rights rights. He seeks to quash the finding of guilt and the imposed punishment, along with declarations regarding the breach of his rights. Mr Justice Seamus Noonan granted permission to bring the action on an ex-parte basis on Monday, with the matter set to return to court in February.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Legal academic jailed for sexual abuse launches action over prison disciplinary sanction. Charges or matters: 44 charges of sexual abuse, including 11 counts of rape, of a male. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted
When:
- September 26th Hearing Or Sentence
- 2017-12-18 Publication
Why: Doolan also says the appeal procedure provided for in the prison rules breaches his rights because he can only appeal the sanction imposed to the Minister, who he says cannot overturn the finding of guilt. CNI source report
Case subjects
Background Person
Charges: 44 charges of sexual abuse, including 11 counts of rape, of a male (Proven)
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; Doolan, who taught law at the Dublin Institute of Technology, was convicted and jailed for 12 years with two suspended in 2016. Doolan was convicted on 42 of the charges and is currently serving his sentence at Arbour Hill.
Convicted Person
Charges: 44 charges of sexual abuse, including 11 counts of rape, of a male (Proven)
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; Dublin Institute of Technology, was convicted and jailed for 12 years with two suspended in 2016.
Places mentioned
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