Courts / Dublin / Report

Brutal serial sex attacker fails in bid to overturn conviction

Date
2021-01-19
Stage
Appeal
Primary locality
Dublin
County
Dublin

Summary

In a 2021 Court of Appeal decision, a 36‑year‑old man convicted of serial sexual assaults in Clondalkin was denied an appeal. The judge upheld convictions for false imprisonment, sexual assault and assault causing harm across three attacks in 2011, 2015 and 2016. The final assault involved a knife and resulted in a victim's hand injury requiring surgery. DNA evidence linked the suspect to all victims, and items such as duct tape and cable ties were found in his van and at the crime scenes. He received a 18‑year‑six‑month sentence, described by the sentencing judge as "brutal and primal" and "premeditated." The appeal was dismissed on all grounds, including alleged breaches of custody regulations and unlawful detention, with the court finding no prejudice or illegality. The defendant will serve a nine‑year supervision period after release.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Brutal serial sex attacker fails in bid to overturn conviction. Charges or matters: offences for attacks on three women in the Clondalkin area of Dublin on September 11, 2011, September 3, 2015 and May 16, 2016; false imprisonment, sexual assault and assault causing harm in relation to the first two offences; false imprisonment and assault causing harm in relation to that offence. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Convicted

When:

Why: She also claimed that there had been a breach of the 1987 Treatment of Persons in Custody Regulations because when her client was arrested and taken to Clondalkin Garda Station, gardai did not have a custody record book to record his detention. CNI source report

Case subjects

Unnamed 36-year-old

Convicted Person

Charges: offences for attacks on three women in the Clondalkin area of Dublin on September 11, 2011, September 3, 2015 and May 16, 2016; false imprisonment, sexual assault and assault causing harm in relation to the first two offences; false imprisonment and assault causing harm in relation to that offence (Proven)

Finding: Convicted

Outcome: Convicted; He was convicted on all counts by unanimous jury verdicts and jailed for a total of 18 years and six months by Judge Pauline Codd at the Circuit Criminal Court in May 2018.

Places mentioned

Court Venue
  • Court of Appeal
  • Circuit Criminal Court
Residence
Garda Station
  • and taken to Clondalkin Garda Station

Topics

Stage Appeal Violent Crime

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

Correction or retraction request

If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.

Email a correction request