Courts / Ireland / Report

13-year sentence upheld for abuse of daughter and granddaughters

Summary

A 72‑year‑old grandfather from the south of Ireland pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting his daughter and two granddaughters. He had appealed the 13‑year sentence imposed in 2016, arguing that the judge had not given enough credit for his lack of prior convictions, good work record and early guilty plea. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice George Birmingham, rejected the appeal. He noted that the offences began in 1985 with the daughter and continued until a granddaughter reported the abuse to a teacher in 2014. The judge had found the offences to be of great seriousness, each falling into the most serious category of sexual offences. The Court confirmed that the 13‑year sentence was appropriate and that the judge had made no error in principle. The case was brought to light when police were called to a family home fracas in 2014, after which the grandfather admitted the abuse.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 13-year sentence upheld for abuse of daughter and granddaughters. Charges or matters: rape and sexual assault of the younger granddaughter, who first reported his abuse, on dates between 2011 and 2014; sexual assault of an older granddaughter on dates between 2011 and 2012 and sexual assault of his own daughter on dates between 1995 and 1999. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

• 2011 and 2014 Incident
• 2011 and 2012 Incident
• 1995 and 1999 Incident
• 2022-01-24 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Appeal

Read the original CNI report