Courts / Limerick / Report
Pensioner in bid to overturn conviction for abusing three granddaughters
Summary
A 76‑year‑old pensioner from the southwest, whose identity is protected, has lodged an appeal against a six‑year conviction for sexually abusing three of his granddaughters, aged eight to eleven. He was found guilty on all 13 assault charges by a unanimous jury at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court in June 2021, with a two‑year suspended sentence. The appeal argues that no evidence justified the long gaps between the abuse and the girls' complaints. The first granddaughter reported inappropriate touching to her teacher in January 2014 and to Gardaí in 2016; the second and third girls made complaints in 2016 after confiding in a school friend. The appellant's counsel contended that the court had no basis to assess the reasonableness of the delays, citing a "doctrine of recent complaint." The judge noted that reasonableness, not speed, should guide the assessment, and the court would reserve judgment. The unnamed man pleaded not guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Pensioner in bid to overturn conviction for abusing three granddaughters. Charges or matters: 13 sexual assaults of the girls who were aged between eight and 11-years-old at locations in the south west but a unanimous jury found him guilty on all charges. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Found guilty
When:
- 1 March Incident
- 31 August Incident
- 1 October Incident
- 11 February Incident
- 1 April Incident
- 30 September Incident
- January 2014 Other
- 2023-02-28 Publication
Why: The man (76), who is from the southwest and who cannot be named in order to protect the identity of his victims, was jailed for six years with the final two suspended by Judge Orla Crowe at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court in June, 2021. CNI source report
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: 13 sexual assaults of the girls who were aged between eight and 11-years-old at locations in the south west but a unanimous jury found him guilty on all charges (Proven)
Plea: Not guilty
Finding: Found guilty
Outcome: Found guilty; A pensioner who was jailed for sexually abusing three of his granddaughters has launched an appeal against his conviction, arguing there was no evidence to justify the time gap between the offending and complaints made by the girls. The man (76), who is from the southwest and who cannot be named in order to protect the identity of his victims, was jailed for six years with the final two suspended by Judge Orla Crowe at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court in June, 2021.
Places mentioned
- Limerick
- Limerick Circuit Criminal Court
Topics
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