Courts / Ireland / Report
Rape complainant allegedly "admitted telling lies" during trial, court told
Summary
A man convicted in February of sexually assaulting and raping his daughter in County Mayo between 2006 and 2010 has brought a motion before the Court of Appeal seeking to adduce new evidence. The Central Criminal Court had sentenced the 47-year-old to fifteen years imprisonment, with the final year suspended, after finding him guilty of multiple offences committed when the complainant was aged seven to eleven. At the Court of Appeal hearing, the accused's counsel submitted that the victim subsequently recanted her evidence, allegedly admitting she had told lies during trial. Evidence was heard from the man's former solicitor corroborating claims of such an admission. The victim was scheduled to give evidence via video link but had left the jurisdiction and would not be available for cross-examination. The three-judge court ordered her evidence to be heard on 11 January next. The defence challenged the trial judge's conduct, contending that the complainant received unfair preferential treatment. The hearing resumes before Mr Justice John Edwards, Ms Justice Máire Whelan and Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy. The unnamed 47-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Rape complainant allegedly "admitted telling lies" during trial, court told. Charges or matters: sexually assaulting and raping his daughter in various ways 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: appeal. Findings: Found guilty
When:
- January 11 Hearing Or Sentence
- December 2014 Other
- January 2015 Other
- 2006 and 2010 Incident
- 2018-11-07 Publication
Why: " Mr Owens put it to him that his daughter came to see him because she believed he was on hunger strike and on his "last legs". CNI source report
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: sexually assaulting and raping his daughter in various ways 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; Describing his offending as "depraved", Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy sentenced him to 15 years imprisonment with the final year suspended.
Places mentioned
- Court of Appeal
- The Central Criminal Court
- Midlands Prison
- My view
Topics
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