Court of Appeal reserves judgment on DPP challenge to Richard Brennan’s sentence

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The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment on the Director of Public Prosecutions’ challenge to Richard Brennan’s sentence for sexually abusing his three sisters. At the hearing on 5 October 2026, the DPP argued that the sentence did not reflect the seriousness of the offending. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, presiding over a three-judge court, said judgment would be given later.

Brennan pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court in March 2025 to 24 offences against his sisters: 18 counts of indecent assault and six of rape. The proceedings were reported on 6 October 2026. He admitted four indecent assaults and four rapes against Paula Fay, 13 indecent assaults and two rapes against Catherine Wrightstone, and one indecent assault against Yvonne Crist. He changed his plea after all three women had given evidence and before the final sister was cross-examined.

In July 2025, Mr Justice David Keane imposed a global nine-year sentence, backdated to when Brennan entered custody, and suspended the final 12 months on condition that he engage with the Probation Service for a year after release. The terms were nine years for the rapes of Ms Wrightstone, seven and a half years for the rapes of Ms Fay, four and a half years for the indecent assaults on Ms Wrightstone, and 16 and 14 months respectively for the indecent assaults on Ms Fay and Ms Crist. The other terms ran concurrently.

DPP counsel Fiona Murphy SC argued that the reduction for mitigation was excessive and there was no basis for suspending a further year. Brennan’s counsel, John Byrne SC, opposed an increase. He said Brennan had been abused by his older brother and encouraged to abuse his sisters, and that his guilty plea spared Ms Wrightstone cross-examination. Counsel also said Brennan was assessed as presenting a low risk of future offending.