Courts / Ireland / Report
Abuser fails in appeal
Summary
A Belfast man, aged 70, lost an appeal against his conviction and six‑and‑a‑half‑year jail sentence for sexual assault. The Court of Appeal found no error in the trial judge's conduct or sentencing. The man had been convicted in October 2018 of five counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault, committed between 1989 and 1996 when the victims were aged seven to 14. Four of the assaults involved his godson's cousin, the other two involved his godson, the son of a neighbour. Lawyers argued the judge erred by treating a 2010 statement to the victim's wife as the first reasonable opportunity for complaint and by allowing the prosecution to link the victim's reporting delay to long‑term mental health issues. The Court rejected these arguments, concluding the 2010 statement was sufficiently close to the formal complaint to not alter the case dynamics.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Abuser fails in appeal. Charges or matters: five counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault on dates between 1989 and 1996 when the boys were aged between seven and 14 years old. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Convicted
When:
- October 2018 Incident
- 1989 and 1996 Incident
- 2021-04-19 Publication
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: five counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault on dates between 1989 and 1996 when the boys were aged between seven and 14 years old (Proven)
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; by Seán McCárthaigh A Belfast man has lost an appeal against his conviction and six-and-a-half year jail sentence for the sexual assault of his godson and that boy's cousin.
Places mentioned
- Court of Appeal
Topics
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request