Man jailed for rape and sexual assault of his niece

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

A 58-year-old man was sentenced to 13 years in prison, with the final 18 months suspended, for offences against his niece. Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford imposed the sentence on 26 April 2024 at the Central Criminal Court. The proceedings were reported on 26 April 2024.

The man, who cannot be named to protect his niece’s anonymity, was found guilty of 14 counts following a trial in Limerick in January 2024. The counts comprised rape, false imprisonment, 11 counts of sexual assault and one count of making a threat to kill or cause serious harm. He also pleaded guilty to four counts of assault causing harm.

The offences occurred in Co. Clare in late January and early February 2022. The judge noted the prolonged false imprisonment and that sexual assaults preceded the rape. She directed the man not to approach the woman in any way now or in the future and backdated the sentence to 14 February 2022, when he entered custody.