Courts / Limerick / Report
Paedophile pensioner to remain behind bars after appeal fails
Summary
Patrick Shanahan, 76, of Cooga, Doon, Co Limerick, remains in prison after the Court of Appeal upheld his 11‑year sentence. He was convicted in July 2022 by a unanimous jury at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court on 14 counts of sexually assaulting his granddaughters Daria and Tara Tobin between 2010 and 2014. The abuse included rubbing the girls' vaginas and later finger and tongue penetration when they were aged 10 to 14. The assaults occurred in Shanahan's home, on nearby land and in his van. Shanahan appealed on grounds of delay and alleged inconsistencies in one complaint, arguing that evidence of how the abuse was disclosed should not have been admitted. The Court of Appeal, led by Justice Úna Ní Raifeartaigh, found that the complaint met all admissibility conditions, that the delay was justified by the girls' psychological state, and that the evidence was consistent. Consequently, the appeal was dismissed and Shanahan will continue to serve his sentence. Patrick Shanahan pleaded not guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Paedophile pensioner to remain behind bars after appeal fails. Charges or matters: all counts. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Convicted
When:
- September 2016 Incident
- 2010 and 2014 Incident
- 2023-11-13 Publication
Why: The judge noted the evidence was that the alleged abuse took place when the complainants were children and that the appellant, their grandfather spent a lot of time in their company because the grandparents spent time caring for the children. CNI source report
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: all counts (Proven)
Plea: Not guilty
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted
Places mentioned
Topics
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