Michael Carter loses appeal over daughter’s abuse disclosure evidence

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

The Court of Appeal rejected Michael Carter’s appeal against his convictions for raping and sexually assaulting his daughter, ruling that her complaint to an aunt was properly admitted at trial. Justice Michael MacGrath said the complaint was consistent with the core aspects of her evidence and that no error had been shown that warranted setting aside the convictions.

Carter was convicted in June 2023 at the Central Criminal Court of one rape count and 25 sample counts of sexual assault involving his daughter when she was aged between nine and 12. The appeal challenged the admission of her disclosure to her aunt; the prosecution argued the circumstances in which it emerged supported its admissibility.