Courts / Louth / Report
UK businessman's conviction for raping vulnerable girls is upheld
Summary
A 38‑year‑old UK businessman was convicted of raping and sexually assaulting two girls aged 10 and 12 in Dublin and Louth between December 2010 and March 2011. He had denied the charges during a 42‑day trial. The girls lived with their mother and siblings in the UK before moving into the businessman's house, where he showered them with gifts and trips. UK social services had been involved and were concerned about his daily control and grooming of the children. He was sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. His appeal was dismissed by the Court of Appeal, which upheld the conviction and found the trial and conviction to be satisfactory. The appeal was rejected on all grounds, including the specialist Gardaí interviews and the use of pre‑interview materials. The court confirmed the conviction was safe.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: UK businessman's conviction for raping vulnerable girls is upheld. Charges or matters: three counts of rape and eight counts of sexually assaulting two girls at addresses in Dublin and Louth between December 3, 2010 and March 10, 2011 when they were aged 10 and 12 years old. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Found guilty
When:
- December 3, 2010 Hearing Or Sentence
- March 10, 2011 Hearing Or Sentence
- November 2011 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2020-03-11 Publication
Why: It would have been "best practice" to make a note of any "pre-interview" contact between one of the interviewers and the complainant "in order to get to know her", but the trial judge characterised the role of the interviewer in this regard as skilled and "bone fides", and the Court of Appeal did not depart from that observation. CNI source report
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: three counts of rape and eight counts of sexually assaulting two girls at addresses in Dublin and Louth between December 3, 2010 and March 10, 2011 when they were aged 10 and 12 years old (Proven)
Finding: Found guilty
Outcome: Found guilty; Sentencing him to 14 years imprisonment with the final two years suspended, Mr Justice Michael White said they were "grave offences" at the most serious level.
Places mentioned
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