Courts / Wicklow / Report

Child rapist who was named after legal battle appeals conviction

Summary

In November 2022, Declan Hannon, aged 52, appealed his 2019 convictions for raping a nine‑year‑old girl on four occasions and for two indecent assaults in Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow. He argued that the decades‑long delay in prosecuting the case had made his trial unfair. Hannon had been found guilty on all six counts and sentenced to seven years' imprisonment by Mr Justice Michael White. The victim, now in her 40s, had given evidence six times before the conviction. The appeal focused on whether the delay prejudiced Hannon, citing the death of his father in 2006, his mother's medical condition, lost work records, and the loss of evidence over the 11‑year gap between the initial complaint and her formal statement in 2013. The Court of Appeal considered these points but had not yet delivered a decision. The case remains at the appeal stage.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Child rapist who was named after legal battle appeals conviction. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Convicted

When:

• April 2019 Incident
• May 2019 Other
• November 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
• 1987 to 1989 Incident
• 2022-11-10 Publication

Why: Ms Justice Úna Ní Raifeartaigh said the victim had already explained that she was afraid the counsellor would not believe her if she said she had been raped. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Appeal

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Read the original CNI report