Courts / Dublin / Report
'Only one rational result' for celebrity whose 'life hangs in the balance', defence tell jury
Summary
In a trial in Dublin, a 40‑year‑old Irish celebrity faced three counts of sexual activity with a 16‑year‑old girl between August and December 2010. The defence counsel, Morgan Shelley, urged jurors to focus on the girl's age claims, arguing she initially told the man she was 18 and later admitted she was 16. Shelley contended that no sexual acts occurred before her 17th birthday and that the prosecution relied on unavailable text messages and memory. He highlighted alleged alibis, such as the man's presence at a hotel in June 2012, and questioned the girl's recollection of visits to his house on 14 December 2010. Shelley asked the jury to find the man not guilty on all counts, stressing the importance of the legal age of consent and the need for impartial deliberation. The judge reminded jurors to consider only the evidence presented and to apply the law that a child under 17 cannot give valid consent.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'Only one rational result' for celebrity whose 'life hangs in the balance', defence tell jury. Charges or matters: three counts of engaging in sexual acts with a child under the age of 17 at locations in Dublin on dates between August and December 2010. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- December 2010 Incident
- January 2011 Incident
- December 14, 2010 Incident
- December 14 Other
- June 2012 Other
- June 17, 2012 Other
- 2023-10-18 Publication
Why: Counsel said that "the prosecution hinges on not only what they said but when" and the hotel is relevant because "she got the timeline wrong". Prosecution account reported by CNI
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: three counts of engaging in sexual acts with a child under the age of 17 at locations in Dublin on dates between August and December 2010 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Places mentioned
Topics
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