Co Galway man jailed for six years for raping and indecently assaulting his sister 40 years ago
A 59-year-old man from Co Galway was found guilty by a jury of raping and indecently assaulting his younger sister, who was aged eight or nine, in their family home between 1985 and 1986. The jury was unable to agree on 21 further counts, which the DPP will withdraw without pursuing a retrial. At the Central Criminal Court, Judge Eileen Creedon sentenced the man to seven years for rape and five years for indecent assault, running concurrently, with the final year suspended on conditions, giving an effective six-year sentence. The man, who has 24 previous convictions and suffers from strokes, continues to deny all charges.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced20 Jul
2 reports
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- The man was found guilty by a jury of one count of rape and one count of indecent assault (anal rape) of his younger sister.
- The victim was aged eight or nine at the time and the man was 17.
- The man told the victim their mother would die if she told anyone and sent other children out of the room before committing the rape.
- Where
- The offences occurred in the family home in Co Galway, with the rape in a box room and the indecent assault in a bathroom.
- When
- The offences occurred between 1985 and 1986.
- Other details
- The victim is a member of the Travelling community.
- The man has 24 previous convictions and suffered strokes in recent years, requiring mobility aids.
- The man continues to deny all charges.
- In court
- The case was tried at the Central Criminal Court before Judge Eileen Creedon.
- The jury was unable to agree on 21 further counts and the DPP will withdraw those counts without pursuing a retrial.
- Sentence
- The man was sentenced to seven years for rape and five years for indecent assault, running concurrently, with the final year suspended on conditions.
25 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe man was found guilty by a jury of rape and indecent assault (anal rape) (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe victim was aged eight or nine at the time of the rape (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe man has 24 previous convictions including public order, road traffic, assault, burglary and possession of drugs (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe victim is a member of the Travelling community (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe man suffered strokes in recent years and requires mobility aids (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe offence was classified as indecent assault at the time but would now be considered anal rape (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe man continues to deny all charges (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe man was found guilty of one count of rape and one count of indecent assault by anally raping the victim (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe victim was aged around eight or nine at the time of the rape (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe man was 17 at the time of the rape (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe man was in charge of the family and sent other children out of the room before committing the rape (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe man told the victim their mother would die if she told anyone (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe man has health issues, suffered strokes in recent years, and requires mobility aids (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe offences occurred in the family home in Co Galway (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe rape occurred in a box room in the family home (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe indecent assault occurred in a bathroom of the same home (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe offences occurred between 1985 and 1986 (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe jury was unable to agree on 21 further counts (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe DPP will withdraw the 21 counts and not pursue a retrial (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Eileen Creedon sentenced the man (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe DPP placed the offending in the 10 to 15 year headline sentence category (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe DPP will withdraw the 21 charges and not pursue a retrial (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe case was tried at the Central Criminal Court (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe man was sentenced to seven years for rape and five years for indecent assault, running concurrently (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe final year of the sentence was suspended on conditions (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 21 Jul2026Woman raped by her brother tells him he's 'a devil, a monster' as he's jailed
Reports the sentencing, the victim impact statement, the jury's partial verdict, and the judge's reasoning including treating the offender as a minor at the time of offending.
victim, late 40s, female, irish (judged from name)convicted, 59, male, irish (judged from name) - 20 Jul2026Man who raped younger sister more than 40 years ago jailed for six years
Provides full sentencing details including the judge's reasoning, the victim impact statement, defence arguments about the defendant's age at the time, his health issues, and the specific sentences imposed (seven years for rape, five years for indecent assault, concurrent, with the final year suspended on conditions).
victim, late 40s, female, irish (judged from name)convicted, 59, male, irish (judged from name)