Courts / Dublin / Report

Doctor's conviction for abusing teenage patients is upheld

Date
2019-04-10
Stage
Appeal
Primary locality
Dublin
County
Dublin

Summary

A retired 86‑year‑old doctor lost an appeal against his conviction for abusing two 15‑year‑old teenage patients in the mid‑1970s. He had pleaded not guilty to eight charges of indecent assault, but a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court found him guilty of indecently assaulting the two boys. The trial judge directed a not guilty verdict for one complainant and acquitted him on the remaining counts. He received two consecutive 10‑month sentences, totalling 20 months imprisonment, under Judge Cormac Quinn. The Court of Appeal upheld the conviction, noting that both victims were 15 when the doctor groped them during medical examinations. One victim described being tied to a bed, restrained with rubber bungee, and having his testicles massaged under a blanket. The second victim testified that the doctor massaged the base of his penis during follow‑up examinations for undescended testes, and the victim forced himself to ejaculate to end the assault.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Doctor's conviction for abusing teenage patients is upheld. Charges or matters: eight charges of indecently assaulting six patients in the north east of the country, on dates between 1964 and 1991. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Found guilty

When:

Why: He said he knew it was "weird" but he thought "who was I" to speak out because he was "just a young boy". CNI source report

Case subjects

Unnamed 86-year-old

Appellant

Charges: eight charges of indecently assaulting six patients in the north east of the country, on dates between 1964 and 1991 (Proven)

Plea: Not guilty

Finding: Found guilty

Outcome: Found guilty; He was given two consecutive 10 month sentences by Judge Cormac Quinn totalling 20 months imprisonment.

Places mentioned

Court Venue
  • Court of Appeal
  • Dublin
  • Dublin Circuit Criminal Court

Topics

Stage Appeal Violent Crime

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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