Thursday 29 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 6415Rape and indecent assault · Co. Galway

Man jailed for abusing his three sisters in Letterfrack in the 1970s

Martin Davis (67), of Churchill, Clifden, Co Galway, was found guilty at the Central Criminal Court of one count of rape and eight counts of indecent assault against his three sisters. The offences took place at an address in Letterfrack, Co Galway, on unknown dates between 1971 and 1981, and one complainant was 10 years old when Davis raped her. Davis was arrested and interviewed in September 2018. Ms Justice Melanie Greally sentenced him, as reported on 1 March 2024, to eight years in prison in total, backdated to when he went into custody, and placed him on the sex offenders register; he maintains his innocence.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced1 Mar
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Martin Davis was found guilty of one count of rape and eight counts of indecent assault against his three sisters.
  • One sister said Davis raped her in her bedroom when she was 10 and he was 15 or 16.
Where
The offences took place at an address in Letterfrack, Co Galway, which the judge said was the family home.
When
The offences occurred on unknown dates between 1971 and 1981.
Cause
The aggravating factors included abuse of three siblings over a prolonged period and a breach of trust.
Investigation
Davis was arrested and interviewed in September 2018.
In court
The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court, where Ms Justice Melanie Greally passed sentence on a Friday reported on 1 March 2024.
Sentence
  • Davis was sentenced to eight years in prison in total, backdated to when he went into custody.
  • Davis will be placed on the sex offenders register.
Other details
  • Davis has no previous convictions.
  • Davis maintains his innocence and does not accept the verdict of the jury.
  • A detective garda agreed that Davis was a juvenile for the majority of the offending.
  • Davis is a married father of two.
  • The three sisters gave victim impact statements describing extreme trauma and deep pain.
20 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatMartin Davis was found guilty of one count of rape and eight counts of indecent assault. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatOne sister said Davis raped her in her bedroom when she was 10 and he was 15 or 16. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe offences took place at an address in Letterfrack, Co Galway. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe offences took place at an address in Letterfrack. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe offences occurred on unknown dates between 1971 and 1981. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenOne complainant was 10 years old when Davis raped her. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe aggravating factors included the abuse of three siblings over a prolonged period and a breach of trust. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationDavis was arrested and interviewed in September 2018. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe case was heard at the Central Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtMs Justice Melanie Greally passed sentence on Friday. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceDavis was sentenced to eight years in prison in total. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe sentence was backdated to when Davis went into custody. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceDavis was sentenced to eight years in prison in total, backdated to when he went into custody. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceDavis will be placed on the sex offenders register. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherDavis has no previous convictions. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherDavis maintains his innocence and does not accept the verdict of the jury. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe judge said the offences were committed in the family home. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherDavis is now placed on the sex offender register. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherDavis is of Churchill, Clifden. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherA detective garda agreed that Davis was a juvenile for the majority of the offending. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 1 Mar2024
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    ‘A vile human being’: Man jailed for abusing his three sisters in the 1970s

    Reports the sentencing of Martin Davis, with details of the offences, the aggravating and mitigating factors, and victim impact statements from the three sisters.

    convicted, Martin Davis, 67, male, named, irish (judged from name)Martin Davisvictim, Carmel Connelly, female, irish (judged from name)Carmel Connellyvictim, Michelle Davis, female, irish (judged from name)Michelle Davisvictim, Audrey Stanley, female, irish (judged from name)Audrey Stanley
  2. 1 Mar2024
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, follow-up
    ‘Pure evil’ Galway man sentenced to eight years in prison for abuse of three sisters

    Reports the Central Criminal Court sentencing of Martin Davis, including the aggravating and mitigating factors, the backdating of the sentence, and the three complainants' accounts of the abuse.

    convicted, Martin Davis, 67, male, named, irish (judged from name)Martin Davisvictim, Carmel Connolly, female, irish (judged from name)Carmel Connollyvictim, Michelle Davis, female, irish (judged from name)Michelle Davisvictim, Audrey Stanley, female, irish (judged from name)Audrey Stanley