Courts / Limerick / Report

Munster man jailed for sexually abusing his nieces, daughter and son moves to appeal conviction

Date
2015-06-19
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Limerick
County
Limerick

Summary

A 52‑year‑old Munster man was convicted and sentenced to ten years' imprisonment for sexually abusing his nieces, in‑law, daughter and son over a 24‑year period. He pleaded not guilty to ten counts of indecent assault on his nieces in‑law between 1988 and 1992 and to three counts of sexual assault on his daughter and son in 2001, 2002 and 2011. The jury found him guilty and the judge, Mr Justice Carroll Moran, imposed a ten‑year term with the final two years suspended. The defendant's counsel, Patrick McGrath SC, has now applied to appeal, arguing that the judge erred by not severing the indictment and by failing to summarise the defence's case. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Anne Marie Lawlor BL, countered that the judge acted appropriately given the nature of each complaint. The appeal will be considered by the court as soon as possible.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Munster man jailed for sexually abusing his nieces, daughter and son moves to appeal conviction. Charges or matters: 10 counts of indecently assaulting his nieces in-law on dates between 1988 and 1992 and not guilty to three counts of sexually assaulting his daughter and son in 2001, 2002 and 2011. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Found guilty

When:

Why: Counsel for the man, Patrick McGrath SC, submitted that the trial judge erred in failing to sever the indictment because the case concerned six complainants spanning a period of 24 years which did not meet the "striking similarity test" and were not cross admissible. CNI source report

Case subjects

Unnamed 52-year-old

Convicted Person

Charges: 10 counts of indecently assaulting his nieces in-law on dates between 1988 and 1992 and not guilty to three counts of sexually assaulting his daughter and son in 2001, 2002 and 2011 (Proven)

Plea: Not guilty

Finding: Found guilty

Outcome: Found guilty; A Munster man jailed for sexually abusing his nieces in-law as well as his son and daughter over a 24-year period has moved to appeal his conviction. He was found guilty by a jury and sentenced to ten years imprisonment with the final two suspended by Mr Justice Carroll Moran on March 3 2013.

Places mentioned

Court Venue

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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