Courts / Sligo / Report

B&B rapist fails to overturn conviction

Date
2025-07-28

Stage
Appeal

Primary locality
Sligo

County
Sligo

Summary

A man convicted of raping a guest at his bed-and-breakfast in County Sligo has failed in an appeal against his conviction at the Court of Appeal. Thomas Wymbs, aged 68, was proprietor of Atlantic Haven B&B near Mount Temple when the offence occurred between 22 and 23 February 2020. He maintained the encounter was consensual. A jury found him guilty following trial at the Central Criminal Court in February 2024. Justice Mary Ellen Ring sentenced him to seven and a half years imprisonment, with the final eighteen months suspended, in July 2024. Wymbs' legal team argued the trial judge erred in refusing two defence requests regarding prosecution closing remarks and expert evidence on alcohol's effects. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, delivering the Court of Appeal's judgment, found no deficiency in the trial charge and rejected both grounds of appeal, stating the jury faithfully applied the law.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: B&B rapist fails to overturn conviction. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Found guilty

When:

February 22 Incident
February 2024 Incident
July 31, 2024 Incident
February 22, 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
2025-07-28 Publication

Why: In delivering the court's judgement today, Mr Justice McCarthy said that at the core of the case was the prosecution contention that the complainant was incapable of consenting because of the effect of alcohol, giving rise to sleep. Prosecution account reported by CNI