Courts / Dublin / Report
Man acquitted of rape and abuse of wheelchair-bound step-daughter
Summary
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a man was acquitted of 48 counts of sexual assault and 21 counts of anally raping his wheelchair‑bound step‑daughter between 2003 and 2013. The jury, after just over six hours of deliberation, returned a not‑guilty verdict on all 69 counts. The accused, who could not be named, had pleaded not guilty. The case centred on allegations that the victim, aged eight to 18 during the alleged offences, was sexually abused by the man, who began with touching and progressed to attempts at vaginal rape and regular anally rape from age 10 or 11. The victim, now 23, testified that the abuse occurred at the family home in Dublin, where her mother and other relatives also lived. The prosecution's case was based on the victim's testimony and limited evidence from family members. The defence argued inconsistencies in the evidence and a lack of specificity in the allegations.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Man acquitted of rape and abuse of wheelchair-bound step-daughter. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- 2003 and 2013 Incident
- 2018-05-03 Publication
Why: Mr Burns noted it had also been implied that the victim was not telling the truth because she didn't tell social workers about the alleged abuse. CNI source report
Case subjects
Accused
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
Topics
Sexual Offences Stage Trial Violent Crime
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