Man acquitted of sexual assault wins High Court challenge to taxi licence refusal
A 55-year-old man, who cannot be named to protect his victim's identity, was convicted in May 2023 of raping and sexually assaulting a girl aged seven or eight between September 2012 and September 2013 in Dublin, and was sentenced to 10 years and six months for rape and seven years and six months for 12 counts of sexual assault. In May 2025, the Court of Appeal reserved judgment on his appeal, in which defence counsel argued the trial judge should have given a corroboration warning. A separate man, acquitted of sexually assaulting his 19-year-old daughter after a retrial, won a High Court challenge to a Gardaí refusal of his taxi licence. Ms Justice Siobhán Phelan quashed the refusal and sent it back for further consideration, ruling the man was entitled to know the material available to the licensing authority as a matter of constitutional fair procedures.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court1 May
2 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A 55-year-old man, who cannot be named to protect his victim's identity, was convicted on one count of rape and 12 counts of sexual assault of a girl aged seven or eight.
- A man was acquitted of sexually assaulting his 19-year-old daughter after a retrial following a Court of Appeal order to overturn his 2017 conviction.
- When
- The offending in the first case occurred between September 21, 2012 and September 6, 2013, and the alleged assault in the second case occurred on Christmas Eve.
- Where
- The cases are in Dublin.
- Investigation
- A specialist interview with gardaí took place on December 5, 2020, when the complainant was 15.
- In court
- A Central Criminal Court trial took place in May 2023 and the man was convicted on May 9, 2023.
- In May 2025, the Court of Appeal reserved judgment on the man's appeal, with defence counsel Maurice Coffey SC arguing the trial judge should have given a corroboration warning.
- Ms Justice Siobhán Phelan quashed the Gardaí's refusal of the man's taxi licence and sent it back for further consideration, ruling he was entitled to know the material available to the licensing authority as a matter of constitutional fair procedures.
- Sentence
- The man was sentenced to 10 years and six months for rape and seven years and six months for the 12 counts of sexual assault to run concurrently.
- Other details
- The man pleaded not guilty to all charges in the criminal trial.
- The complainant's parents had separated and she stayed with her father from Friday to Sunday.
27 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe man is 55 years old and cannot be named to protect the identity of his victim (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHe offered the girl treats such as Kinder Eggs before sexually assaulting her (irishmirror.ie)
- whatOn one occasion he bent her over the bed and raped her (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe complainant would have been around seven or eight years old at the time of offending (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe complainant said the appellant would stroke the back of her head and touch her whenever he got the chance (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHe would offer her treats saying words to the effect of 'if I give you this, would you let me do that' (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe complainant described him feeling, licking, and fingering her on her neck, face, hands, boobs, fanny, and bum (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe abuse happened whenever he got the chance, nearly every weekend (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe man was acquitted of sexually assaulting his 19-year-old daughter after a retrial. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe conviction was overturned by the Court of Appeal and a retrial was ordered. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe alleged assault occurred on Christmas Eve when the man and his daughter were visiting a sister and a neighbour. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe daughter claimed she woke at about 3am to find her father in bed with her and being digitally penetrated. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe man came to the front door and apologised, saying he had been asleep. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe offending occurred between September 21, 2012 and September 6, 2013 (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA specialist interview with gardai took place on December 5, 2020, when the complainant was 15 (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeHe was convicted on one count of rape and 12 counts of sexual assault (irishmirror.ie)
- courtA Central Criminal Court trial took place in May 2023 (irishmirror.ie)
- courtHe was convicted on May 9, 2023 (irishmirror.ie)
- courtDefence counsel Maurice Coffey SC argued the trial judge erred by declining to give a corroboration warning (irishmirror.ie)
- courtDPP counsel Anne-Marie Lawlor SC said it was manifestly clear there was nothing special and peculiar in the case (irishmirror.ie)
- courtMr Justice John Edwards said the three-judge court would reserve judgement (irishmirror.ie)
- courtMs Justice Siobhán Phelan quashed the refusal and sent it back for further consideration by the gardaí. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge said the man was entitled to know the material available to the licensing authority as a matter of constitutional fair procedures. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceHe was sentenced to 10 years and six months for the count of rape (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceHe received seven years and six months on the 12 counts of sexual assault to run concurrently (irishmirror.ie)
- otherHe pleaded not guilty to all charges (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe complainant's parents had separated and she stayed with her father from Friday to Sunday (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 1 May2025Man cleared of sexually assaulting daughter wins challenge to taxi licence refusal
Reports the High Court judgment quashing the Garda refusal of a taxi licence to a man acquitted of sexual assault of his daughter, and the procedural requirements the licensing authority must now meet.
accused, malevictim, 19, female - 1 May2025Man bids to overturn conviction for rape of seven-year-old girl
Reports the Court of Appeal hearing on 1 May 2025 where defence counsel Maurice Coffey SC argued the trial judge should have given a corroboration warning; DPP counsel Anne-Marie Lawlor SC opposed; the three-judge court reserved judgement.
victim, 7, femaleconvicted, 55, male