Courts / Dublin / Report

Father appeals conviction for "evil campaign of rape and abuse" against daughters

Date
2020-01-21
Stage
Appeal
Primary locality
Dublin
County
Dublin

Summary

A 54‑year‑old man was convicted of 75 offences against his three daughters, including 44 counts of sexual abuse, 37 rapes of his eldest daughter, an anal rape of that daughter, an oral rape of her younger sister, and a threat to kill his youngest daughters. The offences occurred between October 1994 and July 2012. He was sentenced to 17 years' imprisonment by Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan on 18 May 2015. The judge described the conduct as an "abhorred and evil campaign of rape and sexual abuse" and praised the victims for their courage. The eldest daughter testified that abuse began when she was nine, escalated to rape at eleven, and included an anal rape at fourteen. She ended the abuse after escaping to England at seventeen. The man has appealed the conviction on grounds that some alleged offences fell outside the indictment's time frame and that a cross‑examination was curtailed. The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment. The unnamed 54-year-old pleaded not guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Father appeals conviction for "evil campaign of rape and abuse" against daughters. Charges or matters: 44 charges of sexually abusing his daughters, 37 counts of raping his eldest daughter, one charge each of anal rape of this girl and oral rape of her younger sister, and one charge of issuing a threat to kill his youngest daughters on dates between October 1994 and July 2012. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Found guilty

When:

Case subjects

Unnamed 54-year-old

Convicted Person

Charges: 44 charges of sexually abusing his daughters, 37 counts of raping his eldest daughter, one charge each of anal rape of this girl and oral rape of her younger sister, and one charge of issuing a threat to kill his youngest daughters on dates between October 1994 and July 2012 (Proven)

Plea: Not guilty

Finding: Found guilty

Outcome: Found guilty; He was found guilty on 75 charges following a trial and was jailed for 17 years by Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan on May 18, 2015.

Places mentioned

Secondary Mention
Court Venue
  • Central Criminal Court
  • Court of Appeal

Topics

Stage Appeal

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