Courts / Galway / Report

Child rapist fails to convince appeal court that jury disagreement made conviction perverse

Date
2026-03-25
Stage
Appeal
Primary locality
Galway
County
Galway

Summary

The Court of Appeal dismissed Sean Kinneavy's conviction appeal, rejecting his argument that a jury's disagreement on two sexual-assault counts made its convictions on 47 other counts and two rape counts perverse. Kinneavy maintains his innocence; he was previously sentenced to nine years for rape offences and a concurrent eight years for sexual assaults.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Child rapist fails to convince appeal court that jury disagreement made conviction perverse. Charges or matters: 47 counts of sexual assault and two counts of rape using an object following a trial at the Central Criminal Court. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Convicted

When:

Why: A Galway man who was convicted of sexually abusing a girl 50 years his junior has failed to convince the Court of Appeal that the jury verdict was perverse because they failed to reach an agreement on two of the 51 charges of sexual assault against him. CNI source report

Case subjects

Sean Kinneavy

Applicant

Charges: 47 counts of sexual assault and two counts of rape using an object following a trial at the Central Criminal Court (Proven)

Finding: Convicted

Outcome: Convicted; In February of last year, Mr Justice David Keane imposed a sentence of nine years on Kinneavy in relation to the rape offences and a concurrent eight-year sentence for the sexual assaults.

Places mentioned

Secondary Mention
Court Venue
  • Court of Appeal
  • Central Criminal Court
Residence
Incident

Topics

Stage Appeal Violent Crime

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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