Courts / Dublin / Report
Grandfather who raped niece (41) on Christmas night is jailed
Summary
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 62‑year‑old Dublin man was convicted of raping his 41‑year‑old niece on Christmas night 2014. The victim reported the offence to Gardaí three months later after discovering a letter from the accused that included a lie‑detector test claiming the sex was consensual. The accused pleaded not guilty, but a jury found him guilty. At sentencing, Mr Justice Tony Hunt noted the lack of any background relationship suggesting consent and the profound impact on the victim and her family. He imposed a custodial sentence of five and a half years, citing the offender's advanced age, medical issues, and good character as mitigating factors. The victim's impact statement highlighted lasting trauma, loss of safety in her home, and a shattered family life. The case remains a single‑incidence rape conviction with no prior convictions for the accused.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Grandfather who raped niece (41) on Christmas night is jailed. Charges or matters: the offence. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted
When:
- Christmas night 2014 Incident
- 2017-12-22 Publication
Why: The 62-year-old Dublin man, who cannot be named in order to protect his victim's identity, later claimed to have taken a lie-detector test about the incident and claimed that the sex was consensual. CNI source report
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: the offence (Proven)
Plea: Not guilty
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; By Jessica Magee and Fiona Ferguson A grandfather who raped his 41-year-old niece as she slept in her own home on Christmas night 2014 has been jailed for five and a half years. Mr Justice Hunt imposed a five and a half year sentence, noting the case was "a terrible tragedy for all concerned." Desmond Dockery SC, prosecuting, said the woman was part of a closely-knit extended family which was now "sundered" because of the rape.
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
Topics
Sexual Offences Stage Sentence
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