Courts / Dublin / Report

State drops charges after rape conviction is quashed

Date
2026-07-09
Stage
Appeal
Primary locality
Dublin
County
Dublin

Summary

The State has dropped the charges against a man whose conviction for rape was quashed by the Court of Appeal. The man (27), who cannot legally be identified, was previously convicted of two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault at an apartment on Middle Abbey Street, Dublin 1, on February 15, 2018. Trial judge Mr Justice David Keane sentenced him to eight and a half years in prison. The Court of Appeal however quashed that conviction, finding that the trial judge had failed to warn the jury of the dangers of convicting after the complainant initially nominated another party as having sex with her and did not refer to the accused. On Wednesday, the case was listed for mention before the Central Criminal Court when lawyers for the Director of Public Prosecutions informed Mr Justice Paul McDermott that the State were entering a nolle prosequi on all counts. Mr Justice McDermott then ordered that the defendant be discharged from all counts. The man has a statutory right to anonymity.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: State drops charges after rape conviction is quashed. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

Places mentioned

Court Venue
  • Court of Appeal
  • Central Criminal Court
Incident

Topics

Stage Appeal Violent Crime

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