Court of Appeal rejects Thomas Wymbs’s conviction appeal

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The Court of Appeal has rejected Thomas Wymbs’s appeal against his conviction for raping a guest at his Sligo bed and breakfast. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy said the jury could be presumed to have applied the legal principles in the trial judge’s charge.

Wymbs argued that the judge should have addressed the jury further on the prosecution’s closing remarks and expert evidence about alcohol. The court found the expert evidence had been given the previous day and that the defence had an opportunity to respond to the closing speech. It also said the jury had been directed on the burden of proof and told not to speculate.