Courts / Dublin / Report
Sentence cut for man who indecently assaulted niece 36 years ago
Summary
A 65‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to 16 months' imprisonment in February 2017 for indecently assaulting his 10‑year‑old niece on St Stephen's Night in 1980 or 1981. The offence involved the uncle kneeling over the child, touching her genitals, leaving, returning twenty minutes later and masturbating. The victim, who was crying and told him to leave, later described the incident as causing irreversible damage, loss of innocence, shame and family fracture. The man, a carpenter with no prior convictions, was married with children and grandchildren and was described by witnesses as of good character. On appeal, the Court of Appeal reduced the sentence to 13 months, citing the offence's single‑night nature, lack of systematic abuse, and the time elapsed since the crime. The maximum sentence at the time was two years. The appeal judge applied a discount for mitigation, concluding a 13‑month term was appropriate. The unnamed 65-year-old was found guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Sentence cut for man who indecently assaulted niece 36 years ago. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Found guilty
When:
- February 15, 2017 Incident
- 2017-12-04 Publication
Case subjects
Appellant
Finding: Found guilty
Outcome: Found guilty; A 65-year-old man jailed for indecently assaulting his 10-year-old niece 36 years previously has had his 16 month prison sentence reduced to 13 on appeal. He was found guilty by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and sentenced to 16 months imprisonment by Judge Pauline Codd on February 15, 2017 The man succesffully appealed his sentence today and was re-sentenced in the Court of Appeal to 13 months imprisonment.
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