Ireland Case No. 29208Rape and indecent assault · Co. Dublin
Appeal dismissed in Dublin rape and indecent assault case
Marcus Duggan, 55, with an address in Blackpool, UK, was convicted in 2024 of raping and indecently assaulting his younger sister Yvonne Ratcliffe in the 1980s and 1990s. Ratcliffe, who waived her anonymity, said the abuse began in the late 1970s when Duggan was eight and she was as young as seven, and it was nearly three decades before she spoke to gardaí. Duggan denied the offences at trial in 2024 but was sentenced in July 2024 to five years for the rape, with the last 12 months suspended, and a concurrent two-year sentence for two counts of indecent assault. The Court of Appeal dismissed all grounds of appeal in November 2026.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Convicted4 Nov
- Sentenced4 Nov
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Duggan struck Ratcliffe with a frying pan before following her to a bedroom and raping her in 1990 or 1991.
- The sexual abuse began in the late 1970s when Duggan was eight and Ratcliffe was as young as seven.
- When
- It was nearly three decades before Ratcliffe spoke to gardaí about the abuse.
- Charges
- Duggan was convicted of two counts of indecent assault and one count of rape on his younger sister Yvonne Ratcliffe in the 1980s and 1990s.
- In court
- Duggan denied the offences at trial in 2024 at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin.
- The Court of Appeal dismissed all grounds of appeal cited by Duggan.
- Sentence
- Duggan was sentenced in July 2024 to five years in jail for the rape, with the last 12 months suspended.
- A two-year concurrent prison sentence was handed down for two counts of indecent assault in the mid-1980s.
- Other details
- Yvonne Ratcliffe waived her anonymity so her brother could be named in media reports.
- Duggan is 55 and has an address at Inver Road, Blackpool, UK.
31 statements extracted from the articles
- whatDuggan is 55 and has an address at Inver Road, Blackpool, UK. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatIn 1990 or 1991, Duggan struck Ratcliffe with a frying pan before following her to a bedroom and raping her. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe camera was concealed in a sanitation box in the bathroom and had the appearance of a pen. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe camera had a flashing light and was a covert video recording device. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe footage contained a shot of the man himself setting it up in the cubicle. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatFour women were identified in the footage. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe man was immediately confronted, made full admissions, and was fired. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe man described the incident as a horrible mistake and said his behaviour was sexually motivated. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHe had bought the device from a well-known retailer. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatGardaí discovered images considered child sexual abuse material showing child exposure of the genital and anal region. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatTwo of the four women made victim impact statements for the court. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatOne victim stated her fundamental right to privacy had been violated. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe images came from footage of a nudist camp and were considered exposure images rather than images involving sexual activity with children. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe images had been downloaded from a website after he visited a particular search engine. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe man had become increasingly dependent on viewing pornography and developed an addiction. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHe was suffering from anxiety and depression at the time, following the breakdown of a long-standing relationship and the recent death of his grandfather. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe sexual abuse began in the late 1970s when Duggan was eight and Ratcliffe was as young as seven. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenA cleaner discovered the camera on 15 October 2024. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationIt was nearly three decades before Ratcliffe spoke to gardaí about the abuse. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA follow-up search at his home recovered several devices. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeHe was convicted of two counts of indecent assault and one count of rape on his younger sister Yvonne Ratcliffe in the 1980s and 1990s. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe Court of Appeal rejected Marcus Duggan's attempt to overturn his convictions. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtHe denied the offences at trial in 2024. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe Court of Appeal dismissed all grounds of appeal cited. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtJudge Martin Nolan said the man engaged in a plan to interfere with the privacy of the women and exercised this of his own free will. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe offence of recording carried a maximum sentence of two years. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceDuggan was sentenced in July 2024 to five years in jail for the rape, with the last 12 months suspended. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceA two-year concurrent prison sentence was handed down for two counts of indecent assault in the mid-1980s. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceJudge Nolan imposed a one-year sentence with the final six months suspended for the first offence. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceA concurrent two-year sentence for possessing child abuse images was suspended in full. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherYvonne Ratcliffe waived her anonymity so her brother could be named in media reports. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 4 Nov2026IT worker who concealed hidden camera in female toilets of workplace learns fate
Sentencing details including judge's reasoning, victim impact statements, and a non-identification order.
convicted, 28, male, Canadian, non-irishvictim, femalevictim, femalevictim, femalevictim, female - 4 Nov2026Man who raped his sister loses bid for freedom
Court of Appeal ruling dismissing all grounds of appeal and upholding the 2024 conviction and sentence.
convicted, Marcus Duggan, 55, male, named, irish (judged from name)Marcus Dugganvictim, Yvonne Ratcliffe, femaleYvonne Ratcliffe