Courts / Cork / Report
Man who raped and twice impregnated step-daughter loses sentence appeal
Summary
A 70‑year‑old Cork man, who cannot be named, pleaded guilty to 18 counts of raping and sexually abusing his step‑daughter between 1974 and 1979, impregnating her twice. The victim, now 53, testified that the man took her from her bedroom to the landing for sexual intercourse three or four times a week, and that she feared Sunday evenings when her mother was at bingo. He was an alcoholic who drank money her mother brought into the house. The Court of Appeal upheld his 12‑year sentence, originally imposed as 14 years with the final two suspended. The appeal argued the starting point of 18 years was too high, citing the 'RK' case, but the court found no error in principle. The judge noted the offender's age and medical issues justified the suspended portion and rejected rehabilitation as a relevant concept. The man had already served four years for indecent assault of the victim's siblings.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Man who raped and twice impregnated step-daughter loses sentence appeal. Charges or matters: 18 counts of raping and sexually abusing the woman on dates between 1974 to 1979 at their Cork home. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- February 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- Friday May 16 Hearing Or Sentence
- 1974 to 1979 Other
- 2018-04-27 Publication
Why: The woman said she dreaded Sunday evenings when her mother went to bingo because her stepfather sexually abused her for the evening and on other occasions he raped her while her mother was downstairs. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: 18 counts of raping and sexually abusing the woman on dates between 1974 to 1979 at their Cork home (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Sentencing the man to 14 years imprisonment with the final two suspended, Mr Justice Tony Hunt placed the offending on the highest end of the spectrum. Ms Crowe said she was relying heavily on a case known as 'RK', in which a sentence of 18 years with the final five suspended was reduced by the Court of Appeal to 12 with the final two suspended following an appeal.
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
- Court of Appeal
Topics
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