Courts / Dublin / Report
'True predator' who abused 14 girls must await appeal fate
Summary
In 2021 the Court of Appeal heard the appeal of a 60‑year‑old Dublin man convicted of sexually assaulting 14 girls between 1994 and 2001. He had pleaded guilty in 2002 to ten attacks and received a nine‑year sentence with two years suspended. In March 2020 a jury convicted him of 30 counts of assault on four girls aged 11 to 17, and he was jailed for seven years. The appeal, presented by his barrister Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha SC, argued that the first COVID‑19 lockdown in March 2020 may have pressured the jury, citing the Taoiseach's statement on school closures and the short two‑hour deliberation. The appeal also raised concerns about the handling of evidence, potential contamination of complainants' statements, and the adequacy of the judge's instructions on identification. The Court of Appeal said a judgment would be issued "some time" due to the multiplicity of arguments.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'True predator' who abused 14 girls must await appeal fate. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- May 1994 Hearing Or Sentence
- February 2001 Hearing Or Sentence
- March 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
- March 12, 2020 Other
- 2021-10-29 Publication
Why: Today, the three-judge Court of Appeal finished hearing the two-day conviction appeal brought by the 60-year-old Dublin male, who cannot be named in order to protect the anonymity of his victims. CNI source report
Places mentioned
- The Central Criminal Court
- Central Criminal Court
- Court of Appeal
- Dublin
- Mr Ó Lideadha's view
Topics
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