Ireland Five family members on trial over alleged child sexual abuse at Central Criminal Court
Five members of an extended Traveller family are on trial at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin, charged with numerous counts of rape and sexual assault against children. The alleged offences took place between 1999 and 2005 in various locations around the country. The defendants are a 66-year-old man, his sons aged 38, 40 and 41, and the 63-year-old wife of the oldest defendant, who is charged with assaulting her nephew and granddaughter and assisting a son. All five deny the 126 counts, and the trial before Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring and a jury is expected to last more than three weeks. On 10 May 2023 a 30-year-old man, the third complainant, gave evidence that his cousin raped him, and the defence suggested he made the allegation to deflect attention, which he denied. The latest development came on 11 May 2023, when a 36-year-old woman told the court that her father and three brothers raped her multiple times a week from childhood until she left home at 18.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court9 May
2 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A 36-year-old woman told the court her father sexually assaulted her from age seven or eight and raped her from age 11 until she left home at 18, several times a week according to one report and weekly according to another.
- The woman told the court that three of her brothers each raped her multiple times a week from age 12 to 18.
- A 30-year-old man, the third complainant, said his cousin raped him on two occasions when he was a child.
- Other details
- The defence suggested the 30-year-old man went to gardaí in 2018 to deflect attention from his own behaviour, and he replied that the suggestion was a lie.
- The jury was told the complainants and the accused are all part of an extended Traveller family.
- Where
- The court has heard the alleged offences occurred in various locations around the country, including a caravan and a car at the side of the road in Connacht and Leinster.
- When
- The alleged offences took place between 1999 and 2005.
- Charges
- A 66-year-old man and three of his sons, aged 38, 40 and 41, are charged with numerous counts of rape and sexual assault against two men and two women.
- The 63-year-old wife of the oldest defendant is charged with assaulting her nephew and granddaughter and assisting a son who allegedly raped her granddaughter.
- The indictment contains 126 counts, and all five defendants deny the charges against them.
- In court
- The trial is taking place at the Central Criminal Court before Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring and a jury.
- The case is expected to last more than three weeks.
23 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA man has denied making rape allegations against his cousin to deflect attention. (rte.ie)
- whatThe man said his cousin raped him on two occasions when he was a child. (rte.ie)
- whatThe complainant told the court that her father sexually assaulted her from the age of seven or eight. (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe complainant told the court her father raped her several times a week from the age of 11 until she moved away at 18. (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe complainant told the court that three of her brothers each raped her multiple times a week from age 12 to 18. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe alleged offences occurred in various locations around the country. (rte.ie, thejournal.ie)
- whereThe alleged rapes by her brothers occurred in a caravan and in a car at the side of the road in Connacht and Leinster. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe alleged offences took place between 1999 and 2005. (rte.ie, thejournal.ie)
- chargeA 66-year-old man and three of his sons are on trial charged with numerous counts of rape and sexual assault. (rte.ie)
- chargeThe wife of the oldest defendant is also on trial, charged with assaulting her nephew and granddaughter and assisting one of her sons. (rte.ie)
- chargeThere are 126 counts on the indictment. (rte.ie)
- chargeThe five defendants deny all of the charges against them. (rte.ie)
- chargeFour men from one family are on trial with the wife of the oldest man on child sexual abuse charges. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeThe wife of the oldest man is charged with assaulting her nephew and granddaughter and assisting a son who allegedly anally raped her granddaughter. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe trial is taking place at the Central Criminal Court. (rte.ie)
- courtThe trial continues before Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring and a jury. (rte.ie)
- courtThe case is expected to last more than three weeks. (rte.ie)
- courtThe indictment contains 126 counts. (thejournal.ie)
- courtAll five defendants deny the charges against them. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe trial continues before Justice Mary Ellen Ring and a jury. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe man giving evidence is the third complainant to testify. (rte.ie)
- otherThe defence suggested the man went to gardaí in 2018 to deflect attention from his own behaviour. (rte.ie)
- otherThe man replied that the suggestion was a lie. (rte.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 11 May2023Woman testifies her father and brothers raped her weekly for years in child sex abuse trial
Report of the trial's early evidence: a 36-year-old complainant testified that her father and three brothers raped her multiple times a week from childhood until she left home at 18.
victim, 36, femaleaccused, 66, maleaccused, 38, maleaccused, 40, maleaccused, 41, maleaccused, 63, female - 9 May2023Man denies making rape allegations to deflect attention
Reports the evidence of the third complainant, who alleges he was raped by his cousin, and the defence suggestion that the allegations were made to deflect attention. Adds the charges against the five defendants and that the trial continues before Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring and a jury.
accused, 66accused, 63accused, 41accused, 40accused, 37