Courts / Kerry / Report
'Low-grade pimp' launches bid to overturn sex worker rape conviction
Summary
Emmet O'Connor, 30, of Kerry, was convicted in December 2020 of two counts of rape, organising prostitution and intimidating a witness. He was sentenced in April 2021 to eight years for the rapes, two years for organising prostitution and one year for intimidation, all consecutive. O'Connor denied the charges. The victim, a sex worker, testified that she and O'Connor had consensual rough sex a year earlier but that on 25 September 2017 she was forced to sleep with him, was crying and begged him to stop; he grabbed her, carried her upstairs, threw her on the bed and raped her twice. O'Connor's appeal argues that the trial judge erred by allowing evidence from two recent‑complaint witnesses without adequate warning of its limited use, and that late forensic evidence was introduced too late. The State's counsel said the evidence was not hearsay and that the judge had explained its limited use. The court will reserve judgment on the appeal.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'Low-grade pimp' launches bid to overturn sex worker rape conviction. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- December 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
- April 2021 Hearing Or Sentence
- September 25, 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2023-06-16 Publication
Why: Regarding the intimidatory Snapchat message, Ms Lacey said the trial judge set out the nature of the offence to the jury and explained that the provision for making an inference was open to the jury. CNI source report
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
- Court of Appeal
Topics
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