Courts / Dublin / Report
Conviction for abuse of step-daughter is upheld
Summary
A 71‑year‑old man, who was the step‑father of a girl, was convicted in 2019 of 72 counts of indecent assault for sexually abusing her from age seven to twelve between 1973 and 1979. The abuse included oral penetration, genital rubbing, oral sex and forcing the girl to rub his penis while naked at a Dublin address. He appealed in September 2020, arguing that the trial judge's charge to the jury was unbalanced and that a 42‑year delay in prosecution and new evidence presented during the trial were unfair. The Court of Appeal found the judge's charge fair, that no defence objection was made to the new evidence, and dismissed all grounds of appeal. The judge noted the severe fear and anxiety inflicted on the victim, who fled Dublin at 16 and described the abuse as permanently scarred her life.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Conviction for abuse of step-daughter is upheld. Charges or matters: the offences of oral penetration, genital rubbing, oral sex and forcing the girl to rub his penis while she was naked at an address in Dublin. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Convicted
When:
- October 31, 1973 Incident
- August 24, 1979 Incident
- October 1973 Hearing Or Sentence
- November 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2021-03-25 Publication
Why: The man (71), who cannot be named in order to protect the identity of his victim, was convicted in 2019 by a jury of 72 counts of indecent assault, which occurred on dates between October 31, 1973, and August 24, 1979. CNI source report
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: the offences of oral penetration, genital rubbing, oral sex and forcing the girl to rub his penis while she was naked at an address in Dublin (Proven)
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; Passing sentence after the trial, Judge Sheahan said it was difficult to overstate the levels of fear and anxiety experienced by a child subjected to this level of abuse.
Places mentioned
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