Dean Ward jailed for rape and coercive control

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Dean Ward was jailed for 17 years for offences against Sinéad O'Neill, including rape and coercive control. The proceedings were reported on 28 July 2022.

A jury found Ward guilty earlier in 2022 of 12 offences, including three counts of rape, four counts of assault and coercive control. The report also identified false imprisonment and threatening to kill among the offences. Ward pleaded not guilty. He does not accept the jury's verdict and maintains his innocence.

The offences took place over six weeks after Ward and Ms O'Neill met in May 2019. Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo said Ward had effectively moved into her home after their first date and used lies and emotional manipulation to insinuate himself into her life. He said she did not freely consent to sexual intercourse and that her acquiescence was secured by fear.

The court heard that Ward restricted her contact with friends and family, monitored her whereabouts and sent her hundreds of messages. Ms O'Neill confided in her boss and they devised an escape plan. Gardaí arrested Ward on 17 July 2019, and he has been in custody since then.

The judge said Ward showed no remorse and that there was virtually no mitigation. Speaking outside court, Ms O'Neill urged others experiencing domestic violence or coercive control to confide in someone.