Husband found guilty of rape and threats against wife

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

A man was found guilty at the Central Criminal Court of raping his wife and making threats against her. The proceedings were reported on 30 June 2016.

The rape conviction concerned an attack at the couple’s home in May 2014 while their son was asleep downstairs. Jurors also found him guilty over a threat immediately before the rape to cut her face, and a telephone threat to kill her the following day.

The jury could not agree on an alleged head-butt in May 2014 or a threat to inflict serious harm during a city-centre meeting about their son’s custody in early August 2014. Jurors had earlier been directed to acquit him on another threat charge.

He entered not-guilty pleas to rape, assault causing harm and five charges involving threats to kill or cause serious harm. The alleged offences covered the period from 24 May to 1 August 2014. He had previously pleaded guilty to a hammer assault on his wife. That attack occurred in August 2014.

Defence counsel suggested the accusations could have arisen from disputes about the house or their son’s custody, or from bitterness or a desire for revenge.

Before trial, defence lawyers argued that his skin colour and the expected racial and religious composition of the jury panel could prevent a fair hearing. Padraig Dwyer SC raised possible prejudice against his religion. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy agreed to warn jurors to stand aside if they could not remain impartial.

Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy directed that he be placed on the sex offenders register. She kept him in custody pending sentencing, which was scheduled for 18 July.