Courts / Tipperary / Report

'Evil' father's conviction for campaign of rape and abuse against daughters is upheld

Date
2020-03-12
Stage
Appeal
Primary locality
Tipperary
County
Tipperary

Summary

A 54‑year‑old Tipperary man was convicted of 75 counts of sexual abuse and rape of his daughters and sentenced to 17 years' imprisonment. The conviction, upheld on appeal, covered 44 charges of sexual abuse, 37 counts of raping his eldest daughter, one count of anal rape of that daughter, one count of oral rape of his younger sister, and one count of threatening to kill his youngest daughters between October 1994 and July 2012. He pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court. The Court of Appeal rejected all grounds of appeal, finding the evidence sufficient for the jury to convict on each count and dismissing the argument that the judge should have allowed further questioning of a victim about her conduct in a previous trial. The appeal judges confirmed the 17‑year sentence imposed by Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan on 18 May 2015.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'Evil' father's conviction for campaign of rape and abuse against daughters is upheld. 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:

Why: Regarding the second ground of appeal Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, delivering the judgement, explained that during the trial counsel for the man had attempted to question one of the victims about her behaviour during a previous trial for the same offences. CNI source report

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

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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