Ireland Mother and partner's convictions for rape and sexual assault of children upheld on appeal
A 41-year-old woman and her 53-year-old partner were convicted of rape, oral rape, sexual assault, sexual exploitation, reckless endangerment and false imprisonment of her five-year-old daughter and three-and-a-half-year-old son. The offences were alleged to have occurred at two locations in Connacht between October 2012 and September 2014. The case went to trial in October 2022, both were found guilty at the Central Criminal Court in November 2022, and they were jailed for a combined 33 years. In June 2024 the Court of Appeal upheld the convictions and sentences, rejecting all grounds of appeal, and both remain in jail.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Convicted14 Jun
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- The woman, 41, and the man, 53, were convicted of sexual and related offences against her daughter, aged five, and son, aged three and a half.
- The children had learning difficulties.
- Where
- The offences occurred at two locations in Connacht.
- When
- The offences occurred on dates between October 2012 and September 2014.
- Charges
- The offences included rape, oral rape, sexual assault, sexual exploitation, reckless endangerment and false imprisonment.
- Investigation
- The Court of Appeal described the eight-year delay between the investigation and the trial as truly shocking.
- In court
- The case went to trial in October 2022.
- Both were found guilty at the Central Criminal Court in November 2022.
- In June 2024 the Court of Appeal upheld the convictions and sentences, rejecting all grounds of appeal, including the delay argument, the admissibility of the interviews and the children's competency as witnesses.
- The Court of Appeal ruling was delivered by Ms Justice Tara Burns on behalf of a three-judge court.
- Sentence
- The woman and man were jailed for a combined 33 years.
- Other details
- The two accused cannot be named to protect the identities of the two children.
- Michael Lynn SC represented the man at the appeal, and Dominic McGinn SC represented the woman.
13 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe children had learning difficulties. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe offences occurred at two locations in Connacht. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe offences occurred on dates between October 2012 and September 2014. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe offences included rape, oral rape, sexual assault, sexual exploitation, reckless endangerment and false imprisonment. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe convictions were upheld by the Court of Appeal. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe ruling was delivered by Ms Justice Tara Burns on behalf of a three-judge court. (irishtimes.com)
- courtBoth were found guilty at the Central Criminal Court in November 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe case went to trial in October 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe Court of Appeal found the trial judge did not err in deeming the interviews admissible. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe woman and man were jailed for a combined 33 years. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe two accused cannot be named to protect the identities of the two children. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMichael Lynn SC represented the man at the appeal. (irishtimes.com)
- otherDominic McGinn SC represented the woman at the appeal. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 14 Jun2024Mother and partner jailed for rape and sexual assault of daughter (5) and son (3) to remain in jail
Court of Appeal upheld the convictions and sentences, rejecting all grounds of appeal including the eight-year delay argument, admissibility of interviews, and the children's competency as witnesses.
convicted, 41, femaleconvicted, 53, malevictim, 5, femalevictim, 3, male