Martin Stokes has rape sentence cut on appeal

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

Martin Stokes had his rape sentence reduced by the Court of Appeal on 3 March 2017, from 12 years with the final two suspended to 10 years with the final three suspended.

The offences occurred during a single incident at the Old Tuam Road, Monkland, County Roscommon, on 3 June 2011, and included the defilement of a child under 15; two sexual assault convictions were also taken into consideration.

The court said excessive attention to lies told by Stokes had contributed to the original headline sentence, while the four-year delay before trial, his age at the time and rehabilitation prospects supported suspending the final three years. The appeal was allowed, subject to a three-year good-behaviour bond and 18 months’ post-release supervision.