Courts / Roscommon / Report
'Sick sex abuser' has jail sentence reduced by two years
Summary
The Court of Appeal has reduced the prison sentence of Christopher Ashmore, a 76-year-old man convicted of sexually assaulting his partner's daughter in the late 1990s. Ashmore, of Co Roscommon, had pleaded not guilty to five counts of sexual assault, including two charges of oral rape, committed in Dublin between January 1998 and December 1999. A Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty on four counts in June 2021. Originally, Ms Justice Carmel Stewart sentenced him to ten years' imprisonment for the two oral rape charges, with the final 12 months suspended, and three years for the two sexual assault charges, to run concurrently. In this appeal, Mr Justice John Edwards dismissed the challenge to the conviction but quashed the original sentence for the rape convictions, citing Ashmore's age and the prospect he might die in prison. In re-sentencing, Mr Justice Edwards fixed a headline sentence of 12 years but discounted three years in mitigation and suspended the final two years. Consequently, Ashmore is to serve nine years' imprisonment with the final two years suspended. The victim, who waived anonymity, described Ashmore as a "sick sexual abuser" who left her a "broken child." The court noted the offending was heinous and persistent, but adjusted the effective custody period based on mitigating factors.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'Sick sex abuser' has jail sentence reduced by two years. Charges or matters: five counts of sexually assaulting the girl, which included two charges of oral rape, at two different locations in Dublin on dates between January 1998 and December 1999. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- January 1998 Hearing Or Sentence
- December 1999 Hearing Or Sentence
- July 23, 2021 Incident
- 2022-11-28 Publication
Why: Ms Murphy also submitted that her client's conviction should be quashed because of additional accusations against Ashmore that emerged when his victim was giving evidence in the case. CNI source report
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: five counts of sexually assaulting the girl, which included two charges of oral rape, at two different locations in Dublin on dates between January 1998 and December 1999 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: Ashmore was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment with the final 12 months suspended by Ms Justice Carmel Stewart for the two oral rape charges and three years' imprisonment for the two sexual assault charges. In re-sentencing Ashmore, Mr Justice Edwards fixed 12 years' imprisonment as the appropriate headline sentence but discounted three years in mitigation and suspended the final two years.
Places mentioned
- Court of Appeal
- Central Criminal Court
Topics
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