Courts / Armagh / Report

NI man jailed for nine years for sexually abusing partner's daughter

Date
2016-05-09
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Armagh
County
Armagh

Summary

A man from Armagh has been sentenced to nine years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court following his conviction for sexually abusing his partner's daughter over a three-year period while the family lived in Monaghan. Darren Davidson, aged 37, was convicted in March 2016 of eleven counts including sexual assault with an object, sexual assault, and defilement. The offences occurred between 2008 and 2010 when the victim was aged thirteen to sixteen. Following interview with gardaí, Davidson emigrated to Australia but was subsequently arrested at Manchester Airport and extradited to Ireland. Mr Justice Robert Eagar imposed a ten-year sentence with the final year suspended, noting the victim displayed symptoms consistent with abuse by a trusted figure. He reduced the sentence from twelve years in light of Davidson's employment history and medical condition. The court ordered Davidson's registration as a sex offender. The adult victim, who waived anonymity, told the court she initiated the complaint to protect her siblings from further abuse.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: NI man jailed for nine years for sexually abusing partner's daughter. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted

When:

Why: She said she decided to make a complaint to gardaí because the abuse was getting more frequent and severe and she felt she had to protect her siblings. CNI source report

Case subjects

Darren Davidson

Convicted Person

Finding: Convicted

Outcome: Convicted; Darren Davidson (37) was today jailed for nine years for abusing the girl from when she was aged between 13 and 16 years old while he lived in the family home in Monaghan. The woman added that when Davidson went to Australia she thought "the torture was never going to end." Noting the ongoing psychological effects, Mr Justice Robert Eagar said she "displays classic symptoms of being abused by someone they trust." He said that without any mitigating factors he would have imposed a 12 year sentence.

Places mentioned

Secondary Mention
Incident
Residence
Court Venue
  • Central Criminal Court

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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