Courts / Ireland / Report

20-year sentence for rape and abuse of family members is cut on appeal

Summary

A 69‑year‑old man was sentenced by a Central Criminal Court jury to 20 years' imprisonment for indecent assault and rape of his grandson between 2004 and 2015, and for indecent assault, rape and attempted rape of three daughters between 1981 and 1987. The sentences were consecutive, giving a headline term of 20 years. The Court of Appeal, after hearing the case, suspended the final two‑and‑a‑half years of the sentence, citing the defendant's age and the likelihood that he would die in custody. The court kept the 20‑year term but removed the last 2½ years from the period to be served. The barrister for the defendant argued that a 20‑year sentence would effectively mean the man would serve the rest of his life in prison, while the Director of Public Prosecutions noted that 69 was not "very old" and that no medical evidence suggested ill‑health. The unnamed 69-year-old pleaded guilty and was convicted.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 20-year sentence for rape and abuse of family members is cut on appeal. Charges or matters: indecently assaulting three of his daughters, raping one of them and attempting to rape another on dates from 1981 to 1987 when the girls were aged between nine and fourteen. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Convicted

When:

• 2004 to 2015 Incident
• 1981 to 1987 Incident
• 2019-11-25 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Appeal Violent Crime

Read the original CNI report