Barry Murphy appeals rape and coercive control conviction over cross-examination
Barry Murphy, a 41-year-old man from Co Offaly, was convicted by a jury in 2024 of three counts of raping his partner Lisa O'Meara, coercive control over an 18-month period, one count of sexual assault, three counts of assault causing harm, and one count of false imprisonment, with offences occurring in Co Offaly and abroad between 2018 and 2020. He was sentenced to 14 and a half years in prison by Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo. Murphy appealed to the Court of Appeal on 16 October 2026, arguing that the admission of video recordings of the complainant's gardaí interviews under section 16 of the Criminal Justice Act rendered his cross-examination ineffective and illusory because she told the trial she could not remember the events. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, reserved its judgment to a later date.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court19 Oct
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Barry Murphy was convicted of three counts of raping Lisa O'Meara, coercive control, one count of sexual assault, three counts of assault causing harm, and one count of false imprisonment.
- Where
- The offences occurred at locations in Co Offaly, apart from one assault committed abroad on a holiday.
- When
- The offences occurred between 2018 and 2020, with the coercive control period spanning 1 January 2019 to 4 July 2020.
- Investigation
- Ms O'Meara came to the garda station twice to ask for her complaints to be withdrawn, and on one occasion she was driven there by Murphy.
- Charges
- Murphy was acquitted of a further count of false imprisonment.
- In court
- Murphy was convicted by a jury at a Central Criminal Court trial sitting in Tullamore in 2024.
- The trial judge ruled there were no fairness reasons to refuse the admission of video recordings of the complainant's gardaí interviews under section 16 of the Criminal Justice Act.
- At his Court of Appeal hearing on 16 October 2026, defence counsel argued the admission of the video evidence rendered cross-examination ineffective and illusory because the complainant said she could not remember the events.
- The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, reserved its judgment to a later date.
- Sentence
- Murphy was sentenced to 14 and a half years in prison by Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo.
9 statements extracted from the articles
- whatMs O'Meara came to the garda station twice and asked for her complaints to be withdrawn, and on one occasion she was driven there by Murphy (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe offences occurred at locations in Co Offaly, apart from one assault committed abroad on a holiday (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeHe was convicted of coercive control over an 18-month period between January 1, 2019, and July 4, 2020 (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeHe was convicted of one count of sexually assaulting her in 2020, three counts of assault causing harm in 2018, 2019 and 2020, and one count of falsely imprisoning her in 2020 (irishmirror.ie)
- courtMurphy was convicted by a jury at a Central Criminal Court trial sitting in Tullamore in 2024 (irishmirror.ie)
- courtHe was acquitted of a further count of false imprisonment (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe trial judge ruled there were no reasons on the grounds of fairness to refuse the admission of the video evidence (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe Court of Appeal reserved its judgment to a later date (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceMurphy was sentenced to 14 and a half years in prison by Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 19 Oct2026Abuser claims he was denied 'meaningful cross-examination' of victim
Murphy's appeal at the Court of Appeal on 16 October 2026, with defence counsel Patrick Gageby SC arguing the trial judge erred in admitting video recordings of the complainant's gardaí interviews under section 16 of the Criminal Justice Act, as her inability to recall the events made cross-examination 'rendered ineffective and illusory.' DPP counsel Timothy O'Leary SC argued the complainant's lack of memory was helpful to the defence. Judgment reserved by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, presiding over a three-judge court.
victim, female, irish (judged from name)accused, Barry Murphy, 41, male, named, irish (judged from name)Barry Murphy