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'There is help out there': sisters urge victims to come forward as 'vile' abuser brother is jailed

Summary

Three sisters from Galway accused their older brother, Martin Davis, of repeated sexual abuse during the 1970s. Carmel Connelly, aged 10 at the time, was raped by Davis, who was then 15‑16, and later subjected her to digital penetration while masturbating. Michelle Davis, aged seven when first abused, was forced into anal penetration and later had her underwear removed and her anus penetrated by Davis, who was 23. Audrey Stanley, nine at the time, was abused with tickling games that escalated to genital touching. Davis denied all charges during a 2018 interview. A Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty of one count of rape and eight counts of indecent assault. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to eight years' imprisonment, back‑dated to his custody, and placed him on the sex offender register. The sisters read victim impact statements, urging others to come forward for support.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'There is help out there': sisters urge victims to come forward as 'vile' abuser brother is jailed. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Found guilty

When:

• April 2018 Incident
• September 2018 Incident
• 1971 and 1981 Incident
• 2024-03-01 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report