Wicklow man jailed for raping wife after child entered room

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

A Wicklow man was jailed after being convicted of one count of raping his wife following a Central Criminal Court trial earlier in 2024. He cannot be named to protect his victim’s anonymity. The proceedings were reported on 25 October 2024.

The court heard that the couple’s relationship had broken down, but they continued to live together for their children. The woman repeatedly told the man to stop after he began rubbing her back. One of their children entered the room during the rape; the man told the child to leave and continued the attack.

The woman contacted a friend that evening and complained to gardaí shortly afterwards. The man told gardaí the encounter was consensual and claimed she had said she intended to accuse him of rape. The report said he later sent her social media messages in 2018 acknowledging the rape and apologising, while asking her to drop the charges and making threats. He denied sending the messages and said he had lost his phone. At trial, he claimed she had fabricated the allegation to have the family home to herself. He continues to maintain his innocence.

In sentencing remarks on 25 October, Ms Justice Melanie Greally described the lasting harm to the woman and the effect on her and their children. The court heard the man had a traumatic brain injury and no previous convictions. Defence counsel submitted that the injury affected his culpability and that his physical and cognitive difficulties could make prison more onerous. The judge expressed concern that a non-open prison could expose him to the influence of hardened criminals.