Man appealing rape and sexual assault convictions argues he was deprived of fair trial at Court of Appeal
A 23-year-old man, who was 16 at the time, was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury of rape and sexual assault of a teenage girl and pleaded guilty to sexual assault of a second teenage girl for offences committed between July 2017 and September 2018 in various locations in the northeast, and was sentenced in March 2024 to a combined global term of six years. In April 2024, Padraig Delaney, 44, of Naas, Co Kildare, was found guilty by a jury in Tullamore of the murder of Shane Knott, 37, at Delaney's home, rejecting his self-defence claim that he struck Knott in the head with a claw hammer after being attacked with scissors; Knott's body was found wrapped in carpet underlay in a dog pen in the back garden and had to be identified through DNA. Delaney was sentenced to life imprisonment by Mr Justice Paul Burns. On 12 May 2025, the Court of Appeal heard the 23-year-old man's appeal against his rape and sexual assault convictions, in which the defence argued the trial judge erred in refusing a separate trial and that the failure to seize the complainants' phones deprived the defence of evidence; Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy reserved judgment.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court12 May
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced12 May
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A 23-year-old man, who was 16 at the time, was found guilty by a Central Criminal Court jury of one count of rape and one count of sexual assault against a teenage girl, and pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault against a second teenage girl.
- Padraig Delaney, 44, of Naas, Co Kildare, was found guilty of the murder of Shane Knott, 37, by a jury in Tullamore, rejecting his self-defence claim that he struck Knott in the head with a claw hammer three or four times after being attacked with a pair of scissors.
- Knott's body was found wrapped in carpet underlay in a dog pen in Delaney's back garden and was unrecognisable, requiring DNA identification.
- When
- The sexual offences took place between July 2017 and September 2018.
- The murder took place at Delaney's home between April 3rd and April 14th, 2024.
- Where
- The offending took place in various locations in the northeast.
- Sentence
- In March 2024, Ms Justice Caroline Biggs sentenced the 23-year-old man to a combined global term of six years in prison for the rape and sexual assault offences.
- Mr Justice Paul Burns sentenced Delaney to life imprisonment for the murder of Knott.
- In court
- On 12 May 2025, the Court of Appeal heard the 23-year-old man's appeal, in which the defence argued the trial judge erred in refusing a separate trial and that the failure to seize the complainants' phones deprived the defence of evidence.
- Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy reserved judgment on the appeal.
- Other details
- Delaney was homeless for a time, had a history of alcohol and substance abuse, and previous convictions for intoxication in public, common assault and criminal damage.
- Knott's family attended his cremation on what should have been his 37th birthday.
20 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe man was found guilty of one count of rape and one count of sexual assault against the first injured party by a Central Criminal Court jury. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe man pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault against a second injured party. (irishtimes.com)
- whatFor the sexual assaults, the complainants said they shared a bed with the appellant and he engaged in sexual acts while they slept or pretended to sleep. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe body was left wrapped in carpet underlay in a dog pen in the back garden. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe deceased was unrecognisable and had to be identified through DNA. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe family attended Knott's cremation on what should have been his 37th birthday. (irishtimes.com)
- whatOn April 14th, Delaney told his father there was a body in his back garden. (irishtimes.com)
- whatDelaney claimed Knott attacked him with a pair of scissors and he struck him in the head with a claw hammer three or four times in self-defence. (irishtimes.com)
- whatDelaney was homeless for a time and had a history of alcohol and substance abuse. (irishtimes.com)
- whatDelaney has previous convictions for intoxication in public, common assault and criminal damage. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe offending took place in various locations in the northeast. (irishtimes.com)
- whereDelaney lives at The Lane, Eustace Demesne, Naas, Co Kildare. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe offending took place between July 2017 and September 2018. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe appeal was heard at the Court of Appeal on Monday, 12 May 2025. (irishtimes.com)
- courtMs Justice Isobel Kennedy said the court would reserve judgment. (irishtimes.com)
- courtA jury in Tullamore found Delaney guilty of murder, rejecting his self-defence claim. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceMs Justice Caroline Biggs sentenced the man to three years and nine months in prison for the rape offence in March 2024. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceShe sentenced him to 11 months for the sexual assault of the same injured party, to run concurrently. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceShe imposed two years and three months for the sexual assault of the second injured party, to run consecutively, giving a combined global sentence of six years. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe man was 16 when he carried out the rape. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 12 May2025Man who beat his ‘free spirit’ friend to death sentenced to life
Reports the sentencing to life imprisonment by Mr Justice Paul Burns, including the judge's description of the self-defence claim as a 'self-serving fabrication' and the victim impact statement from Knott's mother Catherine Fitzsimons.
victim, Shane Knott, 37, male, irish (judged from name)Shane Knottconvicted, Padraig Delaney, 44, male, named, irish (judged from name)Padraig Delaney - 12 May2025Man appealing rape and sexual assault convictions was deprived of fair trial, Court of Appeal told
Court of Appeal hearing on the man's appeal against his rape and sexual assault convictions, with defence arguing the trial judge erred in refusing a separate trial and that failure to seize complainants' phones deprived the defence of evidence.
convicted, 23, malevictim, femalevictim