Courts / Wicklow / Report
Victim wins legal battle to have child rapist named
Summary
A woman who was raped as a child in County Wicklow has won an 18‑month legal battle to have her rapist named. The man, convicted of four rapes and two indecent assaults between 1987 and 1989, was sentenced to seven years in prison in May 2019. A gagging order issued by Judge Michael White in that sentencing hearing prevented the publication of his name and any identifying details of the victim. The victim, who was unaware of her right to waive anonymity at the time, later informed Gardaí that she wished to have the rapist named. The DPP applied to lift the ban, but Judge White refused, citing an expired mandate. The Court of Appeal, led by President Justice George Birmingham, ruled the order superfluous and removed the restriction, allowing the rapist's name to be published in accordance with the Criminal Law (Rape) Act 1981 and the Children Act.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Victim wins legal battle to have child rapist named. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- May 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
- May 23 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
- 1987 and 1989 Incident
- 2020-11-23 Publication
Case subjects
Accused
Outcome: The man was sentenced to seven years in prison in May 2019.
Places mentioned
- Court of Appeal
- Central Criminal Court
Topics
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