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Jury should have been warned over alleged collusion, appeal told

Summary

In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, a 46‑year‑old man was convicted of 15 counts of sexually assaulting his niece between 1991 and 1994 and four counts of indecent assault between 1988 and 1991. The jury could not reach verdicts on 20 counts of assault against the niece's sister from 1992 to 1995. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced the defendant to seven years' imprisonment, describing the abuse as "in the most grievous way" and estimating over 100 occasions of abuse. The defendant appealed, arguing that the trial judge failed to warn the jury about the lack of corroborating evidence and the possibility of collusion between the two complainants, who had shared notebooks. The appeal was heard by the Court of Appeal, with the judges reserving judgment. The appeal does not alter the conviction or sentence.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Jury should have been warned over alleged collusion, appeal told. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Found guilty

When:

• January 1991 Hearing Or Sentence
• April 1988 Hearing Or Sentence
• September 1992 Hearing Or Sentence
• March 1995 Hearing Or Sentence
• 1991 and 1994 Other
• 2020-10-29 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Appeal Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report