Courts / Dublin / Report

Appeal court 'very concerned' over 'obvious issue' in case of man jailed for infecting women with HIV

Date
2021-06-25
Stage
Appeal
Primary locality
Dublin
County
Dublin

Summary

In a 2021 appeal hearing, the Court of Appeal expressed strong concern that the defence of a man serving a 10‑year sentence for infecting two former partners with HIV had failed to raise a key issue about the judge's instructions on circumstantial evidence. Judge John Edwards noted that the omission was "obvious" and could be considered a "flagrant denial of justice" if not addressed. Counsel Paul Greene was given one week to submit affidavits and arguments, while the Director of Public Prosecutions had a week to reply. The case, first of its type in Ireland, involved a 30‑year‑old African man convicted in 2018 for intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to two women between November 2009 and June 2010. The appeal focuses on procedural matters rather than the merits of the conviction. The hearing will resume after the submissions are reviewed.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Appeal court 'very concerned' over 'obvious issue' in case of man jailed for infecting women with HIV. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Convicted

When:

Why: Following conviction, both women said the man would tell people to stay away from them because they had the virus. CNI source report

Case subjects

Unnamed appellant

Appellant

Finding: Convicted

Outcome: Convicted; Lawyers for a man serving a 10-year prison sentence for infecting two former partners with HIV have been told by the Court of Appeal to explain why they did not raise an "obvious" issue with what the judge told the jury at the end of their client's trial.

Places mentioned

Court Venue
  • Court of Appeal
  • Dublin
  • Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Secondary Mention

Topics

Stage Appeal

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

Correction or retraction request

If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.

Email a correction request