Courts / Ireland / Report
Munster Abuse Case: second trial will not proceed after charges dropped
Summary
A second Munster sexual abuse trial involving an unnamed 12-year-old girl will not proceed after the Director of Public Prosecutions dropped all charges against her eight relatives in the Central Criminal Court. Prosecuting counsel Bernard Condon SC stated, "This is the end of it," confirming the dismissal of cases against the girl's mother, stepfather, step-grandmother, step-grandfather, two aunts, and two uncles. The defendants had previously denied the allegations of sexual abuse and neglect, which were alleged to have occurred between June 2014 and August 2017. This decision follows the January sentencing of five other family members for the abuse of the girl's step-cousins. In that prior proceeding, Mr Justice Paul McDermott jailed the father and mother for 15 and nine years respectively, describing the conduct as the "most awful" sexual abuse and exploitation. Two uncles, aged 49 and 27, received 15-year sentences, while a maternal aunt (35) was jailed for three years for sexually assaulting two children. The DPP has lodged an appeal against the "undue leniency" of the sentences imposed on the father, mother, and the 49-year-old uncle. The current dismissal concludes the legal proceedings for the second group of accused relatives.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Munster Abuse Case: second trial will not proceed after charges dropped. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- June 2014 Incident
- August 2017 Incident
- 2022-03-01 Publication
Case subjects
Accused
Outcome: In January, the five children's father and mother were jailed for 15 and nine years respectively for what Mr Justice Paul McDermott described as the "most awful" sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of their three eldest children, and the wilful neglect of all of them. Two uncles, aged 49 and 27, were jailed for 15 years for their part in the sexual abuse, while a maternal aunt (35) was jailed for three years for sexually assaulting two of the children.
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
Topics
Sexual Offences Stage Sentence
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