Courts / Ireland / Report

Husband, wife and three sons go on trial over alleged rapes and abuse in extended family

Summary

A husband, his wife, and their three sons are currently on trial at the Central Criminal Court, facing allegations of sexual offences and assaults against four members of their extended family. The first accused, aged 66, has pleaded not guilty to 25 charges, including two counts of anal rape of his granddaughter, and 21 charges against his nephew. His son, the second accused (41), pleaded not guilty to 31 charges involving his niece and sister. The third accused (38), another son, denied 36 charges, including anal rape of his cousin and niece. The fourth accused, their mother (63), pleaded not guilty to concealing the effects of an offence and two counts of assault. The fifth accused (40), the third son, pleaded not guilty to 31 charges against his sister. Prosecutors allege the offences occurred between September 1999 and February 2004. The complainants are two brothers, aged 30 and 33, and two women, aged 30 and 36. Shane Costelloe SC stated that the State's case is that each complainant was sexually abused by some of the accused. The trial, expected to last three weeks, continues before Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Husband, wife and three sons go on trial over alleged rapes and abuse in extended family. Charges or matters: 25 charges including two charges of anal rape of his granddaughter; a total of 31 charges including two charges of anal rape and one charge of rape to the same granddaughter, his niece; 36 charges, including two charges of anal rape in relation to the same granddaughter and two charges of anal rape of a second male complainant, his cousin; assaulting her nephew, the first male complainant, causing him harm and assaulting her granddaughter causing her harm; 31 charges against his sister, the second female complainant, including five charges of sexual assault, 23 charges of rape and three charges of oral rape; anal rape; assault; rape; sexual assault; oral rape; concealing effects of offence. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• September 1999 Incident
• February 2004 Incident
• 2023-05-03 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial Violent Crime

Read the original CNI report