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'It only took him six weeks to destroy me': criminal who beat, raped and coercively controlled partner to remain in prison after appeal rejected
Summary
A criminal who assaulted, raped and coercively controlled his partner during a six-week relationship in which she endured 'violence and extreme degradation' will remain in prison after a court today rejected his appeal against conviction. Dean Ward (38), also known as Dean Alexander Fowkes, was convicted following a trial in June 2022 of twelve offences, including four assaults, one false imprisonment, one making a threat to kill, two counts of production of articles, three counts of rape and one count of coercive control on dates between June 11 and July 17, 2019. Ward, who was jailed for 17 years, does not accept the verdict of the jury and continues to maintain his innocence. He was also jailed in 2016 for four years for falsely imprisoning and assaulting a young mother in November 2015. Survivor Ms Sinéad O'Neill, who was the victim in both cases, was also convicted in the trial. At Ward's sentence hearing, Ms O'Neill told the court she had led a quiet, happy life and had wanted someone to share it with. 'It only took him six weeks to destroy me,' she said. The matter was adjourned at the appeal stage.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'It only took him six weeks to destroy me': criminal who beat, raped and coercively controlled partner to remain in prison after appeal rejected. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted
When:
- June 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
- June 11 Hearing Or Sentence
- July 17, 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
- November 2015 Incident
- May 2019 Incident
- July 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2025-12-12 Publication
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; Ward, who was jailed for 17 years, does not accept the verdict of the jury and continues to maintain his innocence. Ward, formerly of Ballintlea, Hollyfort, Gorey, Wexford was also jailed in 2016 for four years for falsely imprisoning and assaulting a young mother in November 2015.
Places mentioned
Topics
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