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Abuser jailed for 41 counts of indecent assault fails in appeal against 8-year sentence

Summary

A 57‑year‑old Dublin man was convicted by a jury of 41 counts of indecent assault against a young relative who was between six and nine years old when abused between 1983 and 1986. The man, aged 24 to 26 at the time, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, by Judge Gerard O'Brien on 8 February 2016. He appealed both his conviction and the severity of the sentence, but the Court of Appeal dismissed both appeals. In the appeal, Mr Justice George Birmingham, sitting with Mr Justice Alan Mahon and Mr Justice John Hedigan, confirmed that the man had no prior convictions and that the sentence was a severe one, reflecting the prolonged, systemic nature of the abuse and the psychological harm inflicted on the victim, who is a second cousin of the accused. The Court of Appeal upheld the original eight‑year sentence with one year suspended.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Abuser jailed for 41 counts of indecent assault fails in appeal against 8-year sentence. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Convicted

When:

• February 8, 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
• Thursday October 29 Other
• 1983 and 1986 Incident
• 2017-06-27 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Sexual Offences Stage Appeal Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report