Ireland Retired garda on trial for raping wife in Leinster
A 60-year-old retired garda is on trial at the Central Criminal Court for allegedly raping his wife in her bedroom at their family home in Leinster in July 2018. The couple, who married in 2007 and have two children, were sleeping in separate bedrooms by summer 2018 and the complainant had initiated divorce proceedings. The man was arrested and given a cautioned interview on 5 December 2018, in which he called the allegation a complete fabrication, and pleaded not guilty to the sole count of rape. The trial before Ms Justice Karen O'Connor began on 16 February 2022 and is scheduled to run for five days. Neither party can be identified in accordance with the 1981 Rape Act.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court16 Feb
4 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A 60-year-old retired garda is accused of raping his wife in her bedroom at their family home in Leinster in July 2018.
- The couple married in 2007, have two children, and were sleeping in separate bedrooms by summer 2018.
- The complainant alleged the defendant lay on top of her and had sex with her while she was not consenting after she said no.
- Where
- The alleged rape took place in the wife's bedroom at the couple's family home in Leinster.
- When
- The alleged rape occurred in July 2018.
- Investigation
- The complainant attended a Garda station and made statements, and the defendant was arrested and given a cautioned interview on 5 December 2018.
- Charges
- The man pleaded not guilty to the sole count of rape.
- In court
- The trial is before Ms Justice Karen O'Connor at the Central Criminal Court, with Patrick Gageby SC prosecuting and John Fitzgerald SC defending.
- A jury of eight men and four women was empanelled on 14 February 2022 and the trial began on 16 February 2022, scheduled to run five days.
- Other details
- Neither the defendant nor the complainant can be identified in accordance with the 1981 Rape Act.
- The complainant said the marriage was acrimonious and she initiated divorce proceedings in 2018.
- The defendant said there was no rape or intercourse, called the allegation a complete fabrication, and said he has no memory of the morning in question.
32 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe defendant is a 60-year-old retired garda (irishtimes.com, longfordleader.ie)
- whatThe couple married in 2007 and have two children together (irishtimes.com)
- whatBy summer 2018 the couple were sleeping in separate bedrooms (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe complainant allegedly said no and the defendant lay on top of her and had sex with her while she was not consenting (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe complainant received a court summons for a safety and barring order against her (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe defendant said there was no rape or intercourse and called the allegation a complete fabrication (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatThe defendant said he kept a packed bag in the house at all times in case he had to leave (offalyexpress.ie, kildarenow.com)
- whatThe defendant is a 60-year-old retired garda who pleaded not guilty to raping his wife. (kildarenow.com)
- whatThe defendant said on one occasion his wife broke his tooth using a mobile phone. (kildarenow.com)
- whatThe defendant said he stayed in a box room for the sake of the children. (kildarenow.com)
- whatThe defendant said he never laid a hand on the complainant. (kildarenow.com)
- whereThe alleged rape took place in the wife's bedroom at their family home in Leinster (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe alleged rape took place in the wife's bedroom at the couple's family home in Leinster. (kildarenow.com)
- whenThe alleged rape occurred on a date in July 2018 (irishtimes.com, kildarenow.com)
- whenThe defendant's cautioned interview by gardaí investigators took place on 5 December 2018. (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie, kildarenow.com)
- investigationThe complainant attended a Garda station and made statements (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe defendant was arrested and interviewed (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe defendant pleaded not guilty to the sole count of rape (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe man pleaded not guilty to raping his wife in her bedroom at their family home in Leinster in July 2018. (longfordleader.ie)
- chargeThe 60-year-old man pleaded not guilty to raping his wife in her bedroom at their family home in Leinster in July 2018 (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtThe trial is before Ms Justice Karen O'Connor and is scheduled to run for five days (irishtimes.com)
- courtA jury of eight men and four women was empanelled on Monday (irishtimes.com)
- courtPatrick Gageby SC is prosecuting (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial is taking place at the Central Criminal Court before Ms Justice Karen O'Connor and a jury. (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
- courtPatrick Gageby SC is prosecuting and John Fitzgerald SC is defending. (longfordleader.ie, kildarenow.com)
- courtThe trial is being heard at the Central Criminal Court before Ms Justice Karen O'Connor and a jury. (kildarenow.com)
- otherNeither the defendant nor the complainant can be identified in accordance with the 1981 Rape Act. (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie, kildarenow.com)
- otherThe complainant said the marriage was acrimonious with fighting and that she initiated divorce proceedings in 2018. (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie, kildarenow.com)
- otherThe defendant said he kept a packed bag in the house at all times and stayed in a box room for the sake of the children. (longfordleader.ie)
- otherThe defendant said he has no memory of anything taking place on the morning of the alleged rape. (longfordleader.ie, kildarenow.com)
- otherThe defendant stated there was no rape or intercourse and called the allegation a complete fabrication. (longfordleader.ie)
- otherA family law solicitor met with the complainant on a number of occasions in late 2018. (longfordleader.ie, kildarenow.com)
The reporting
newest first- 19 Feb2022Retired garda said allegation he raped wife in their home was fabrication
Day three of the trial; evidence of the defendant's December 2018 cautioned interview, testimony from a family law solicitor who met the complainant in late 2018, and the complainant's account of counselling sessions in which she described the conception of her son as 'forceful' but denied using the word 'rape'.
accused, 60, malevictim, female - 19 Feb2022Retired garda in Leinster said allegation he raped wife in their home was fabrication
Day three of the trial; defendant's cautioned interview evidence and family law solicitor testimony presented.
accused, 60, malevictim, female - 19 Feb2022Retired garda said allegation he raped wife in their home was fabrication
Day three of the trial: the defendant's cautioned interview of 5 December 2018 was led by the prosecution, in which he denied the rape and described being assaulted by his wife. A family law solicitor's evidence and the complainant's counselling notes were also referenced.
accused, 60, malevictim, female - 16 Feb2022Retired garda goes on trial accused of raping his wife
Reports the opening of the trial, including the prosecution's opening statement describing the alleged rape, the couple's volatile marriage, the safety and barring order, and the subsequent arrest.
accused, 60, malevictim, female