Case No. 2325Rape, indecent assault, assault occasioning actual bodily harm · Co. Kerry · 1 Jan 1979
Edward Molyneaux jailed for 15 years for sustained rape of daughter in Co Kerry
Edward Molyneaux, 82, of Kilshenane, Listowel, Co Kerry, was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork after being convicted of 61 counts of rape, three counts of indecent assault and two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm against his daughter Marie Murphy between 1979 and 1987.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Convicted7 Feb
- Sentenced14 Feb
2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports49 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe woman was raped by her father repeatedly from childhood. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe rapes occurred on a weekly basis. (irishtimes.com)
- whatIn one assault he hit her and broke a chair on the back of her head. (irishtimes.com)
- whatIn another assault he beat her with a leather strap. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe abuse continued when the victim returned home at Christmas and on holidays. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMolyneaux was jailed for 15 years for a sustained campaign of sexual abuse against his daughter. (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe raped Marie Murphy on a weekly basis for eight years from when she was 12. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMarie Murphy is now aged 59 and waived her right to anonymity. (irishtimes.com)
- whatPhysical assaults included beating his daughter with a strap in 1981 and breaking a chair against her head in 1982. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMolyneaux was found guilty by unanimous verdict of 61 counts of rape, three counts of indecent assault and two charges of assault causing harm. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe abuse took place from when Marie was 12 in the late 1970s until she was in her early twenties. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe victim was beaten with a large leather strap and had a chair broken over her head when she was around twelve. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatMolyneaux pleaded not guilty to all charges despite admitting the abuse to Gardaí. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatMolyneaux recalled seeing Marie in sexual terms at the age of four. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe rape continued even after Marie left home at 18, when she returned for holidays. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA school friend of Marie Murphy told the trial she saw marks on Marie's body consistent with being beaten with a belt. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe abuse took place in the family home in Kerry. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe rapes took place in houses, sheds, lanes and behind ditches in fields. (irishtimes.com)
- whereMolyneaux is from Kilshenane, Listowel, Co Kerry. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe rape took place in the family home, adjacent fields, ditches, lanes and a shed. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe abuse took place in ditches, fields and lanes when the foundation of their family home in Kilshenane was being built. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe abuse began in 1977 when the victim was 12 years old. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe abuse continued until 1987 when the victim was in her early 20s. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe man was arrested for questioning on 1 February 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe offending occurred between 1979 and 1987. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationDet Sgt Trevor Ryan gave evidence to the court about the locations of the abuse. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationDetective Sergeant Trevor Ryan said Molyneaux raped his daughter in houses, sheds, lanes and in ditches. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThe man was convicted of 61 counts of rape. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe man was also convicted of two charges of assault causing harm. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe was convicted of 61 counts of rape, three counts of indecent assault and two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe case was heard at the Central Criminal Court in Cork. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe accused was remanded in custody for sentencing on 14 February 2025. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe case was heard at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork before Ms Justice Siobhán Lankford. (irishtimes.com)
- courtMs Justice Siobhan Lankford said the abuse was at the highest level of the scale. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe DPP said a sentence between 15 years and life imprisonment was merited. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceMolyneaux was placed on the sex offenders register for life. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceHe was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe judge stated there is no prospect of rehabilitation and no basis for suspending any portion of the sentence. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe man revealed he started seeing his daughter in sexual terms from when she was four. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe man used a condom because he did not want his daughter to get pregnant. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe victim left home and went to the UK at age 18. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe accused had no previous convictions. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe prosecution sought a sentence of 15 years to life. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe defence argued that locking up the 82-year-old would be morally and legally wrong. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMolyneaux admitted to the offending at interview but contested the case and showed no remorse. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMarie Murphy, 59, waived her right to anonymity. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMolyneaux has not shown any remorse for his actions. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMolyneaux has been placed on the sexual offenders register for the rest of his life. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMarie Murphy is a former mental health nurse who also worked with teenagers. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 14 Feb2025Man jailed for 15 years for raping daughter on weekly basis for about 10 years
Adds sentencing detail: Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford's remarks, the victim impact statement by Marie Murphy, Gardaí interview details in which Molyneaux admitted being a paedophile and having sex 'about once a week', the physical abuse (leather strap, chair broken over head), the DPP's submission that 15 years to life was merited, and Molyneaux's placement on the sexual offenders register for life.
victim, Marie Murphy, 59, female, irish (judged from name)Marie Murphyconvicted, Edward Molyneaux, 82, male, named, irish (judged from name)Edward Molyneaux - 14 Feb2025‘It’s your shame’: Woman tells court she came to think being raped by her father was ‘the norm’
Sentencing report: Molyneaux received a headline sentence of 17½ years reduced to 15 years due to his age, health and lack of previous convictions. He was placed on the sex offenders register for life.
victim, Marie Murphy, 59, female, irish (judged from name)Marie Murphyconvicted, Edward Molyneaux, 82, male, named, irish (judged from name)Edward Molyneaux - 7 Feb2025Woman tells court after father’s rape conviction that abuse became the norm
Provides the victim impact statement, the accused's admissions to Gardaí (including that he was a paedophile and used a condom), the locations of the abuse, the daughter's move to the UK at 18, and the prosecution and defence submissions at the pre-sentence hearing.
victim, femaleconvicted, 82, male