Courts / Galway / Report

'You ruined my life,' rape victim tells older brother

Summary

A 59-year-old man from Co Galway was jailed for six years after being found guilty of raping and indecently assaulting his younger sister when she was a child. The victim, now in her late 40s, described the abuse as 'torture' and told her brother he 'ruined her life'. The jury convicted him on two counts, but could not agree on 21 other charges, which the DPP will not retry. The man denied all charges and has 24 previous convictions. The court heard that the abuse occurred in their family home, and the brother told the victim her mother would die if she told anyone. The victim's impact statement highlighted the lasting trauma and shame she experienced. The judge sentenced him to seven years for rape and five years for indecent assault, with both sentences to run concurrently. The defence argued the man should be treated as a minor at the time of the offence and that the jury's inability to agree on most charges should be considered.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'You ruined my life,' rape victim tells older brother. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Found guilty

When:

• 1985 and 1986 Incident
• 2026-07-20 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report