Courts / Sligo / Report
12.5 years for psychiatric nurse who repeatedly raped wife and abused daughter
Summary
At the Central Criminal Court, Martin Doyle, aged 53, of Esker, Knock, County Mayo, was convicted following trial of two counts of rape and 25 counts of sexual assault. The offences comprised the rape of his wife on two occasions in May 2009 and once in November 2011, and systematic sexual assault of his daughter between 2004 and 2011 while the family resided in County Meath and subsequently County Sligo. Justice Caroline Biggs imposed a sentence of twelve and a half years imprisonment, with two years post-release supervision to follow. The court heard evidence of assaults occurring in domestic settings and at Lough Gara, Gurteen. Doyle maintained his not-guilty plea throughout proceedings. The judge noted the absence of remorse while acknowledging his work history and lack of previous convictions as mitigating factors. She described the abuse as a systematic pattern causing near-complete destruction of the child victim's childhood. Martin Doyle pleaded not guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 12.5 years for psychiatric nurse who repeatedly raped wife and abused daughter. Charges or matters: raping his wife twice in May 2009 and on a third occasion in November 2011, along with 24 counts of sexual assault of his daughter on various dates between 2004 and 2011; all the charges and continues to deny the offending; 27 counts of sexual assault in total, including 11 sample counts covering sexual assaults of the child while she was showering. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted
When:
- May 2009 Incident
- November 2011 Incident
- May 2011 Incident
- 2004 and 2011 Incident
- 2010 and 2011 Other
- 2023-03-06 Publication
Why: She said that in the immediate aftermath of the rapes she didn't want anyone touching her and hated herself because she couldn't hug her children. CNI source report
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: raping his wife twice in May 2009 and on a third occasion in November 2011, along with 24 counts of sexual assault of his daughter on various dates between 2004 and 2011; all the charges and continues to deny the offending; 27 counts of sexual assault in total, including 11 sample counts covering sexual assaults of the child while she was showering (Proven)
Plea: Not guilty
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; She reduced the sentence to 12 and a half years but also ordered that Doyle be subject to two years of post-release supervision, noting that he is assessed as being at a moderate risk of reoffending.
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
Topics
Related court reports
- Couple forged documents out of belief they'd never qualify for mortgage
- Widow settles damages action over husband's death at Galway Sportsgrounds for €500k
- Balbriggan District Court round-up
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request