Courts / Laois / Report

Rapist who threatened to kill child's pet dog if she told anyone about abuse fails to overturn conviction

Summary

A 42‑year‑old man, James Quigley, was convicted in July 2023 of 12 counts of sexual offences against a girl aged 7 to 11, including rape, anal rape and oral rape, and was sentenced to 13 years with six months suspended. He appealed, claiming the trial judge erred on two counts of vaginal rape. The Court of Appeal rejected his appeal but substituted one conviction of vaginal rape with a verdict of attempted rape. The court found ample evidence for the first count and insufficient evidence for the second, quashing that conviction and allowing the substitution. Quigley denies wrongdoing. The court noted the abuse began when the victim was seven, involved repeated exposure, touching, threats to kill her dog, recorded rapes, choking attempts, and a final incident where he slapped her and threatened her. The victim reported the abuse to Gardaí in 2020 after learning of it from her mother. The unnamed 42-year-old was acquitted.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Rapist who threatened to kill child's pet dog if she told anyone about abuse fails to overturn conviction. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Acquitted

When:

• July 2023 Incident
• October 2012 Incident
• July 2018 Incident
• October 2023 Incident
• 2025-04-28 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Appeal

Related court reports

• ESB worker too late to pursue claim seeking €42k in alleged unpaid overtime
• Balaclava attacker claims car search breached his rights
• Lithuanian man admits engaging in terrorist plot to attack mosque
• Mosque bomb attack accused argues he can't get a fair trial
• Judge should have convicted drivers caught like 'fish in a barrel' in 'unjust speed zone'
• Seven years for sex offender who repeatedly recorded himself assaulting sleeping woman

Read the original CNI report