Courts / Ireland / Report

Lawyers for jailed father will seek to adduce new evidence that victim "recanted" rape accusation

Date
2018-11-02
Stage
Sentence

Summary

A man convicted in February of multiple counts of rape and sexual assault against his daughter has opened an appeal against his conviction in the Court of Appeal. The 47-year-old was sentenced to fifteen years imprisonment, with the final year suspended, following trial at the Central Criminal Court. The offences, which occurred between 2006 and 2010 in County Mayo and abroad, involved the complainant when she was between seven and eleven years old. The accused maintains his innocence and had pleaded not guilty to all charges. His counsel is seeking to adduce new evidence concerning an alleged recantation by the complainant. The appeal also raises grounds including claims of procedural unfairness during trial, cross-examination length, and challenges to certain evidentiary rulings. The Director of Public Prosecutions will respond to these submissions. The hearing continues before three Court of Appeal judges.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Lawyers for jailed father will seek to adduce new evidence that victim "recanted" rape accusation. Charges or matters: three counts of rape, five counts of anal rape and six counts of sexually assaulting his daughter in Co Mayo and abroad on dates between 2006 and 2010 when she was aged between seven and eleven; all offences and continues to maintain his innocence. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Found guilty

When:

Case subjects

Unnamed 47-year-old

Convicted Person

Charges: three counts of rape, five counts of anal rape and six counts of sexually assaulting his daughter in Co Mayo and abroad on dates between 2006 and 2010 when she was aged between seven and eleven; all offences and continues to maintain his innocence (Proven)

Plea: Not guilty

Finding: Found guilty

Outcome: Found guilty; Lawyers for a man jailed for repeatedly raping his daughter are seeking to adduce "new evidence" which, they say, shows the victim allegedly "recanted" and admitted "telling lies during the trial". Describing his offending as "depraved", Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy sentenced him to 15 years imprisonment with the final year suspended.

Places mentioned

Court Venue
  • The Central Criminal Court

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

Read the original CNI report

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