Courts / Roscommon / Report
Abuser appeals 18-year sentence for repeated rape of girl
Summary
A man from Clare has appealed an 18-year prison sentence imposed for the sexual abuse of a child over a three-year period. The 26-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to sample counts of rape and sexual assault of a girl between 2009 and 2012. The sentence, which included a five-year suspension, was handed down in July 2015. During the appeal hearing at the Court of Appeal, the defendant's counsel referenced a comparable case from Roscommon, arguing that the headline sentence was disproportionate when compared to similar convictions. The counsel submitted that an appropriate sentence range for such offending would be between ten and twelve years, particularly given the guilty plea entered. The Director of Public Prosecutions' counsel countered that the sentencing judge had correctly placed the case in the highest category, citing the severe and lasting impact on the victim. The Court of Appeal reserved judgement on the appeal.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Abuser appeals 18-year sentence for repeated rape of girl. Charges or matters: one sample count each of section 4 rape and sexual assault of the girl between 2009 and 2012 in County Clare. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- July 20, 2015 Incident
- 2009 and 2012 Incident
- 2016-06-14 Publication
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: one sample count each of section 4 rape and sexual assault of the girl between 2009 and 2012 in County Clare (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: A Clare man jailed for the "serial sodomisation" of a six-year-old child over three years has moved to appeal his 18 year prison sentence. He was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment with the final five suspended by Mr Justice Tony Hunt on July 20, 2015.
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
- Court of Appeal
Topics
Sexual Offences Stage Appeal Violent Crime
Related court reports
- Court refuses to reduce sentence for brothel keeper caught with child abuse material
- Cage fighter convicted of Shannon murder gets hearing date for miscarriage of justice application
- Strokestown assault conviction overturned by High Court
- Cage fighter seeks to have murder conviction declared a miscarriage of justice
- Ukrainian man left with serious head injury after unprovoked fire extinguisher attack
- Judge asks for information on allegation that garda photographed whistleblower in court
Help us improve this report
Your request is saved for the newsroom's next review. It does not immediately change the published report.
Prefer email? Send a correction request.