Courts / Dublin / Report
Grandfather raped and abused granddaughter 'almost daily', court hears
Summary
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 71‑year‑old man was found guilty of 28 counts of rape, oral rape, anal rape and 19 counts of sexual assault against his granddaughter between 2008 and 2012. The abuse began shortly before the girl's First Holy Communion when the man, while renovating a shed, forced her to perform oral sex on him; she was aged seven or eight. Over the next four years he repeatedly took her to a shed, a car and a mobile home to force her to masturbate, orally rape and attempt penetrative sex. He gave her money after each incident. The abuse ended when a friend informed her mother on New Year's Eve 2012, and the case was reported to the gardai in January 2013. The victim, now grown, gave a victim impact statement describing the daily abuse and the lasting trauma. The court adjourned the case for finalisation on 5 December 2023.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Grandfather raped and abused granddaughter 'almost daily', court hears. Charges or matters: rape, oral rape, anal rape and sexual assault. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Found guilty
When:
- January 2013 Incident
- Tuesday, December 5 Adjournment
- 2008 and 2012 Incident
- New Year's Eve Incident
- Christmas Other
- 2023-11-28 Publication
Why: It was reported to gardai in January 2013 but the victim felt unable to proceed with a trial at the time because she was very young. CNI source report
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: rape, oral rape, anal rape and sexual assault (Proven)
Finding: Found guilty
Outcome: Found guilty; Seamus Roche SC, defending, said the man has health issues and that "his age is against him." He also said the man has "difficulties with alcohol." He said the man has had no disciplinary issues while in custody and asked the court to structure his sentence in a way that provided "some possibility of rehabilitation upon his release." The man has no previous convictions.; The case was adjourned for finalisation next Tuesday, December 5.
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
Topics
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