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Notorious child rapist Rossi Walsh argues media coverage cost him fair trial
Summary
Stephen 'Rossi' Walsh, a 74-year-old former resident of Rathgar, Dublin, appealed his 2010 conviction for two counts of indecent assault at the Court of Appeal. Walsh, who represented himself at the original Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, argued that adverse media coverage published the day before his trial impaired his right to a fair trial. Counsel Paul Carroll SC submitted that Judge Patrick McCartan failed to apply fair procedure by not adjourning the proceedings to allow a "fade factor" for juror memory, despite Walsh's complaint about newspaper articles referencing his prior convictions. Walsh also alleged judicial bias, claiming Judge McCartan was familiar with him through the Prisoners' Rights Organisation. The State, represented by Dean Kelly SC, countered that the trial judge was fair and that Walsh himself raised his criminal history. The appeal concerns the October 21, 2010, conviction where Walsh was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, a term made consecutive to a prior 10-year sentence for rape. Presiding Judge John Edwards reserved judgment, noting that a decision would not be issued in the next short weeks. The matter remains adjourned pending the court's final determination on whether the pre-trial media coverage compromised the trial's fairness.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Notorious child rapist Rossi Walsh argues media coverage cost him fair trial. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Convicted
When:
- October 21, 2010 Incident
- May 1, 1988 Incident
- September 30, 1998 Incident
- February 2010 Incident
- November 2010 Incident
- December 2011 Incident
- October 18, 2010 Adjournment
- 2008 and 2009 Incident
- 2021-06-17 Publication
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; The 74-year-old, with a former address at Belgrave Road, Rathgar, Dublin 6, was convicted on October 21, 2010, by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of two counts of indecent assault and was sentenced to three years' imprisonment by Judge Patrick McCartan. Walsh had a 10-year sentence imposed on him by Mr Justice Paul Carney in February 2010 for raping a nine-year-old girl in the early 1990s.; Mr Carroll said that Judge McCartan did not apply "fair procedure" in Walsh's trial and that the trial should have been adjourned.
Places mentioned
- Belgrave Road
- Dublin
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Special Criminal Court
- Court of Appeal
Topics
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