Courts / Ireland / Report
Child rapist who led 'double life' has jail term increased
Summary
In February 2023 the Court of Appeal increased the jail term of a 78‑year‑old man convicted of raping and sexually abusing a child over a decade. The man, whose name is withheld to protect the victim, had been jailed for seven years after a 2021 conviction on 72 counts, including rape, oral rape, anal rape and sexual assault, committed between 1991 and 2001. The State appealed on grounds of undue leniency. Judge John Edwards ruled that the original 15‑year headline sentence had been too low, citing aggravating factors such as the child's age, the duration of the abuse and the breach of trust. The new headline sentence was 14 years, with a one‑year discount for lack of prior convictions and good character, and a four‑year suspension, leaving nine years to be served. The victim's impact statement described lasting trauma and the loss of her childhood. The man's appeal last month was dismissed. The unnamed man pleaded not guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Child rapist who led 'double life' has jail term increased. Charges or matters: all charges and had no previous convictions. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Convicted
When:
- June 2021 Incident
- May 17, 1991 Incident
- May 16, 2001 Incident
- 2023-02-14 Publication
Why: In his separate, failed conviction appeal last month, the man argued that there had been inadequacies in the case against him because gardaí failed to take statements from family members and that two of those – a grandmother and an uncle – were now deceased. CNI source report
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: all charges and had no previous convictions (Proven)
Plea: Not guilty
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; He was jailed for seven years but cannot be named to protect the victim's anonymity. Mr Justice Edwards said the sentencing judge, Mr Justice Paul McDermott, identified a 15-year headline sentence before mitigation, which resulted in a final sentence of ten years, the final three years of which were suspended.
Places mentioned
- Court of Appeal
- Central Criminal Court
- DPP's view
Topics
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