Courts / Cork / Report

Man appeals conviction for repeated rape of step-daughter

Date
2018-07-05

Stage
Appeal

Primary locality
Cork

County
Cork

Summary

Keith Murphy, aged 42, is awaiting the outcome of an appeal against his conviction for repeatedly raping his step‑daughter over a six‑year period. He pleaded not guilty to 26 counts of sexual assault, two counts of attempted rape and 64 counts of rape between May 2008 and November 2015. A Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty after just under four hours of deliberation, and he was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended by Justice Deirdre Murphy on 29 May 2017. The offences largely took place in the former family home in Cork while the victim, now 19, was aged nine to 15. She waived anonymity and reported the abuse's devastating impact. The appeal, opened today, focuses on alleged due‑process failures, including the judge's handling of DNA evidence and jury instructions. The Court of Appeal will reserve its judgment.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Man appeals conviction for repeated rape of step-daughter. Charges or matters: 26 counts of sexual assault, two counts of attempted rape and 64 counts of raping the girl between May 2008 and November 2015. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Found guilty

When:

May 2008 Incident
November 2015 Incident
May 29, 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
2018-07-05 Publication

Why: In a victim impact report, she outlined how the abuse had had a "devastating, profound and far reaching" effect, impacting every part of her life, and that she continued to be held back "because of this horrible thing I went through. CNI source report