Courts / Wicklow / Report

Child rapist says he would be in danger if identity published

Date
2020-07-27

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Wicklow

County
Wicklow

Summary

In a High Court hearing, a 55‑year‑old convicted child rapist told Judge Tony Hunt that publishing his identity would endanger him. He had pleaded guilty in 2015 to repeated rape and sexual assault of his wife's two sons, aged under ten, over a decade from 1993. In March 2016, Judge Hunt sentenced him to 21 years' imprisonment, suspending the final five years. The victims had requested to waive their statutory anonymity so the defendant could be named publicly, but Judge Hunt stayed the waiver because related cases involving the same victims and two other accused were pending in Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court. He noted that publicity of the 2015 convictions would hinder jury selection for those trials. The judge assured the DPP that anonymity could be lifted after the Wicklow trials concluded. The defendant, who has since changed legal representation, expressed fear that a waiver would put him in danger and is currently in therapy.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Child rapist says he would be in danger if identity published. Procedural stage: trial

When:

March 2016 Incident
2020-07-27 Publication

Why: However, Mr Justice Hunt placed a stay on the waiving of the anonymity because there were related cases to be prosecuted at Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court. CNI source report