Courts / Wicklow / Report
Man who continued to rape wife after being interrupted by child is jailed
Summary
A 40‑year‑old Wicklow man was sentenced to seven years in prison, with the final 12 months suspended, for raping his wife after a child entered the room. The offence occurred while the couple were still living together for their children, despite a broken relationship. The victim was preparing for a bath when the man offered a back rub, refused, and then forced her to strip and raped her. A child witnessed part of the assault. The man denied the rape, claiming it was consensual, and later sent messages acknowledging the act but also demanding the charges be dropped. He maintains his innocence. The judge noted the man's acquired brain injury but found no diminished responsibility. The sentence considered the victim's severe harm, the child's witness, and the man's lack of prior convictions, imposing strict probation conditions upon release.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Man who continued to rape wife after being interrupted by child is jailed. Charges or matters: one count of rape in January 2017 following a Central Criminal Court trial earlier this year, cannot be named to protect his victim's anonymity. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted
When:
- January 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2024-10-25 Publication
Why: During the trial, the man claimed that the woman had fabricated the allegation in order to have the family home to herself and also suggested that she was exaggerating her serious medical condition. CNI source report
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: one count of rape in January 2017 following a Central Criminal Court trial earlier this year, cannot be named to protect his victim's anonymity (Proven)
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; By Eimear Dodd and Isabel Hayes A Wicklow man who continued to rape his wife even after being interrupted by his young child walking into the room has been jailed for six years. She imposed a sentence of seven years with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions, including that the man place himself under the supervision of the Probation Service upon release.
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
Topics
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