Courts / Dublin / Report

Court upholds uncle's conviction for abusing 8-year-old nephew

Date
2018-06-07

Stage
Appeal

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

In a Dublin case, a 36‑year‑old man was convicted of sexually abusing his eight‑year‑old nephew between 1988 and 1991. He was found guilty of eight counts of indecent assault, one count of rape and one count of sexual assault. The court noted the abuse was frequent, occurring three or four times a week, and that the victim was threatened with violence. The man had denied all charges, including 26 additional counts that the judge directed the jury to acquit. He received a 10‑year prison sentence, imposed on 20 February 2017, for the seriousness of the offences and the child's age. He appealed the conviction, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, stating the investigation was adequate and the conviction was safe. The appeal against the sentence's severity was later withdrawn.