Courts / Waterford / Report

Woman tells trial that older brother raped her on Communion day

Summary

During a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 41‑year‑old woman testified that her older brother raped her on the day of her first Holy Communion. She said the abuse began when she was four and continued until she was between ten and twelve. The brother, whose name cannot be disclosed, pleaded not guilty to 56 counts of rape and 15 counts of sexual assault in County Waterford, covering incidents from December 1983 to June 1988. The woman described being raped in their family home, fields, woodlands, school grounds, a community centre and a clubhouse. She recounted nine or ten rapes at an estate near their home when she was about ten, and further assaults in wooded areas between ages seven and eleven. She also said the brother threatened to kill her mother if she disclosed the abuse. The trial is proceeding before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon with a jury of five women and six men.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Woman tells trial that older brother raped her on Communion day. Charges or matters: 56 counts of rape and 15 counts of sexual assault in County Waterford, on dates between December 1983 and June 1988. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• December 1983 Incident
• June 1988 Incident
• August 2015 Incident
• 2018-04-23 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Sexual Offences Stage Trial Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report