Ireland Judgment reserved on rape appeal at Court of Appeal
A 52-year-old man was convicted in December 2023 of 11 counts of raping his wife while she was unconscious between 2006 and 2014, using various objects including a knife handle, bicycle pump, cucumber, banana and wooden spatula. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison with the final year suspended at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin. His appeal was heard at the Court of Appeal on 26 July 2026, where his barristers argued a video showing consensual sexual behaviour found on a laptop purchased after his other devices were seized in 2019 should be admitted as new evidence. Judgment was reserved by Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy presiding over a three-judge court.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court28 Jul
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A 52-year-old man was convicted of 11 counts of raping his wife while she was unconscious.
- When
- The rapes occurred between 2006 and 2014.
- Weapon
- The rapes involved penetration with various objects including a knife handle, bicycle pump, cucumber, banana and wooden spatula.
- Where
- The case was tried at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin.
- Investigation
- Gardaí seized a laptop owned by the husband which contained images of penetration with objects and images of unconscious women downloaded from the internet.
- A video showing the complainant on all fours in her underwear was found on a laptop purchased after the appellant's other devices were seized in 2019.
- In court
- The first jury in 2022 acquitted him on four counts and was unable to decide on the remaining 11.
- The jury in his second trial in May 2023 was discharged for a legal reason concerning a warrant.
- He was convicted at the Central Criminal Court in December 2023.
- His appeal was heard at the Court of Appeal on 26 July 2026 where his barristers argued a video showing consensual sexual behaviour should be submitted as new evidence.
- Sentence
- He was sentenced to 12 years in prison with the final year suspended.
- Other details
- The appellant cannot be named to protect the identity of the injured party.
11 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe man was convicted of 11 counts of raping his wife between 2006 and 2014. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe rapes involved penetration of the victim's vagina with objects while she was unconscious. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí seized a laptop owned by the husband which contained images of the penetration and images downloaded from the internet. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe video was found on a laptop purchased after the appellant's other devices were seized in 2019. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe first jury in 2022 acquitted him on four counts and was unable to decide on the remaining 11. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe jury in his second trial in May 2023 was discharged for a legal reason concerning a warrant. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe appeal was heard at the Court of Appeal and judgment was reserved. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceHe was sentenced to 12 years in prison with the final year suspended. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe objects used included a knife handle, bicycle pump, cucumber, banana and wooden spatula. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe new video showed the complainant on all fours in her underwear while the appellant filmed her buttocks. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherAt the time of sentence, the man had no previous convictions. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 28 Jul2026Man who raped unconscious wife asks for video evidence to be submitted in appeal
Court of Appeal hearing on 26 July 2026 where the appellant's counsel sought leave to rely on a new video as evidence; judgment reserved.
convicted, 52, malevictim, female