Courts / Tipperary / Report
Violent, sadistic rapist who claimed use of screen to separate him from victim was 'prejudicial' loses appeal
Summary
A 57‑year‑old man, whose name is withheld to protect his wife, was convicted of 16 counts of anal rape of his then‑wife between 2003 and 2007 and of eight counts of indecent assault and three counts of rape of his younger sister between 1978 and 1987. He was sentenced to 13 years' imprisonment, with seven years for the sister offences and six years for the wife offences, to run consecutively with no portion suspended. The appeal argued that the use of a screen separating the witness from the court was prejudicial and that certain background evidence should not have been admitted. The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, holding that the judge had considered the need to protect the complainant from secondary victimisation and that the evidence was relevant and necessary to illustrate the depth of violence in the relationship. The judge found no error in admitting the background evidence or in allowing the screen.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Violent, sadistic rapist who claimed use of screen to separate him from victim was 'prejudicial' loses appeal. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- March 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2003 and 2007 Incident
- 1978 and 1987 Incident
- 1995 to 2005 Other
- 1995 and 1996 Incident
- 2023-05-25 Publication
Why: The violent rapist (57), who cannot be named in order to protect the identity of his victim, had pleaded not guilty to 16 sample charges of anal rape of his then-wife between 2003 and 2007 at a location in Co Tipperary. CNI source report
Case subjects
Appellant
Outcome: He was found guilty by a jury of the rapes of his wife and sentenced to 13 years' imprisonment in March 2020 by Mr Justice Paul McDermott at the Central Criminal Court. The judge imposed a sentence of seven years in relation to the offences against his sister and six years in relation to his ex-wife.
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
- Court of Appeal
Topics
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