Courts / Ireland / Report
'Evil' abuser who defiled teenage girls and plied them with heroin is spared more jail time
Summary
The Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions seeking to increase the sentence of Eoin Vickers, a 36-year-old man from Co Mayo. Vickers pleaded guilty to two counts of defilement of a girl under 15, three sample counts of defilement of a child under 17, and one count of defilement of a child under 17 regarding a friend, alongside an assault charge. These offences, alleged to have occurred between June 2011 and August 2013, involved an abusive relationship with two teenage girls, including the introduction of heroin and the removal of a contraceptive implant. On May 22, 2019, Mr Justice Michael White sentenced Vickers to 11 years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. The DPP argued this sentence was unduly lenient. President Mr Justice George Birmingham, sitting with Justices McGovern and Collins, acknowledged the case was exceptionally serious and that the Court of Appeal would have imposed a higher sentence, rejecting the discount given for the guilty plea. However, the court held that the original sentence, while very lenient, did not warrant intervention due to the singular nature of the facts and the wide margin of discretion afforded to the sentencing judge. Consequently, Vickers' original sentence remains unchanged.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'Evil' abuser who defiled teenage girls and plied them with heroin is spared more jail time. Charges or matters: two counts of defilement of a girl under the age of 15, and three sample counts of defilement of a child under the age of 17, between June 2011 and August 2013; assaulting her, and to a count of defilement of a child under the age of 17, in respect of her friend. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- June 2011 Other
- August 2013 Other
- May 22, 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2020-03-11 Publication
Why: President of the Court of Appeal Mr Justice George Birmingham said it was "quite an unusual case", because of the duration of the offending, and the fact there were two complainants. CNI source report
Case subjects
Applicant
Charges: two counts of defilement of a girl under the age of 15, and three sample counts of defilement of a child under the age of 17, between June 2011 and August 2013; assaulting her, and to a count of defilement of a child under the age of 17, in respect of her friend (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He was sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment with the final two years suspended by Mr Justice Michael White on May 22, 2019. Mr Justice Birmingham said the judges of the Court of Appeal would have imposed a higher sentence, and would not have allowed the same discount afforded by the sentencing judge for the mitigating factors.
Places mentioned
- Court of Appeal
Topics
Drugs Stage Appeal Violent Crime
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