Courts / Louth / Report

Alleged IRA man caged for raping boys subject to 'severe abuse' by other prisoners

Date
2020-06-25
Stage
Appeal
Primary locality
Louth
County
Louth

Summary

An alleged IRA member, Seamus Marley, aged 46, was convicted of raping two teenage boys in County Louth in the early 1990s. A Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty on six counts of sexual assault and two counts of rape after a six‑day trial in May 2019, and he was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment by Mr Justice Paul McDermott. Marley has now applied to the Court of Appeal for an extension of time to lodge an appeal, arguing that he was unaware of the 28‑day deadline and had misunderstood the need to appeal both the conviction and the sentence. He was held in 23‑hour lock‑up during his initial custody due to severe verbal abuse from other prisoners, who targeted him because of his alleged IRA membership and his conviction as a child rapist. The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment on the application.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Alleged IRA man caged for raping boys subject to 'severe abuse' by other prisoners. Charges or matters: sexually assaulting and raping the two boys in Co. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

Why: This was for his own protection, as he had been subject to severe abuse because of his suggested membership of the IRA and his conviction for being a child rapist. CNI source report

Case subjects

Seamus Marley

Appellant

Charges: sexually assaulting and raping the two boys in Co (Alleged Or Contested)

Outcome: Credit: Collins) An alleged IRA man jailed for raping teenage boys at a "republican safe house" over two decades ago was initially held on 23-hour lock-up after he was subject to severe verbal abuse by other prisoners, the Court of Appeal has heard. According to the judge who jailed him, Marley used his standing in the republican movement, a movement 'well capable of clandestine killings', to silence his victims.; Justice John Edwards, presiding with Justice Patrick McCarthy and Justice Isobel Kennedy, reserved judgment in the case.

Places mentioned

Court Venue
  • Court of Appeal
  • Central Criminal Court
Residence
  • Stillorgan Road
Secondary Mention
Incident

Topics

Stage Appeal Violent Crime

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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