Courts / Limerick / Report
15-year sentence upheld for serial abuser who raped niece
Summary
In October 2019 the Court of Appeal upheld a 15‑year prison sentence that had been imposed on Joseph Hogan, a 66‑year‑old resident of Rose Court, Keyes Park, Limerick city, for the rape and sexual assault of his niece. Hogan had been convicted in 2015 on three counts of rape and one count of attempted rape, with an additional ten‑year term for three counts of sexual assault, all of which were to run concurrently. The offences occurred between 1984 and 1988 when the victim, Ms Sonya Stokes, was aged between seven and eleven. Hogan had pleaded not guilty to all counts. The appeal court found no error in the original sentencing and confirmed that the 15‑year term was within the appropriate range for the seriousness of the offences, given the victim's age and the breach of trust involved.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 15-year sentence upheld for serial abuser who raped niece. Charges or matters: all counts; were very grave, and involved a breach of trust; the rape and sexual assault of his niece in 2015. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- March 2015 Incident
- 1984 and 1988 Incident
- 1995 and 1998 Incident
- 2009 and 2013 Incident
- 2019-10-15 Publication
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: all counts; were very grave, and involved a breach of trust (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: Hogan was sentenced in March 2015 to 15 years on three counts of rape, and one count of attempted rape, with ten year sentences to run concurrently for three additional counts of sexual assault, following a trial in the Central Criminal Court.
Appellant
Charges: the rape and sexual assault of his niece in 2015; all counts; were very grave, and involved a breach of trust (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: Credit: Collins) The Court of Appeal has upheld a 15-year prison sentence imposed on a serial abuser who was convicted of the rape and sexual assault of his niece in 2015.
Places mentioned
Topics
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