Courts / Ireland / Report
Rape conviction upheld despite claims jurors deliberated early, were bullied
Summary
In 2020, a 72‑year‑old man was convicted of raping his 16‑year‑old niece at her grandparents' farmhouse in 1978 and sentenced to four years and six months' imprisonment. He appealed, arguing that jurors had begun deliberations early and were allegedly bullied, citing an anonymous letter. The Court of Appeal rejected the appeal, finding no evidence of premature deliberations or misconduct. The judge noted the offence was aggravated by the victim's age and the setting, and that the defendant's poor health made him a poor candidate for prison. The victim, who described the assault in a victim impact statement, was a child at the time and the case was heard in the Central Criminal Court. The appeal was dismissed by the three‑judge panel, with no change to the conviction or sentence. The unnamed 72-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Rape conviction upheld despite claims jurors deliberated early, were bullied. Charges or matters: raping his niece at the victim's grandparent's farmhouse in the south of the country in 1978; a single charge of rape contrary to common law, later appealed the conviction on the grounds the verdict reached by the jury was "perverse, unsafe and unsatisfactory". Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Found guilty
When:
- February 2020 Incident
- 2022-06-16 Publication
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: raping his niece at the victim's grandparent's farmhouse in the south of the country in 1978; a single charge of rape contrary to common law, later appealed the conviction on the grounds the verdict reached by the jury was "perverse, unsafe and unsatisfactory" (Proven)
Plea: Not guilty
Finding: Found guilty
Outcome: Found guilty; The now 72-year-old man, who cannot be named to protect the victim's identity, was jailed after he was found guilty of raping his niece at the victim's grandparent's farmhouse in the south of the country in 1978. He had been convicted by a unanimous verdict following a trial at the Central Criminal Court two years ago, and was sentenced to four years and six months' imprisonment by Mr Justice Paul Coffey in February 2020.
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
- Court of Appeal
Topics
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