Ireland Case No. 23658Indecent assault · Co. Dublin · 1 May 1988
Stephen Walsh's indecent assault conviction overturned by Court of Appeal
Stephen 'Rossi' Walsh, 75, had his 2010 conviction for two counts of indecent assault of a seven-year-old girl quashed by the Court of Appeal on 8 December 2022, after he successfully argued that adverse pre-trial media coverage in the Sunday World and News of the World impaired his right to a fair trial.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Acquitted8 Dec
3 reports - Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports32 statements extracted from the articles
- whatWalsh is 75 years old. (kildarenow.com, irishtimes.com)
- whatWalsh was convicted of two counts of indecent assault of a seven-year-old girl (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe prosecution alleged Walsh indecently assaulted a seven-year-old girl on two occasions between 1 May 1988 and 30 September 1988 (irishtimes.com)
- whereWalsh has former addresses in Dublin 6 and Co Kildare. (kildarenow.com)
- whereWalsh has former addresses at Belgrave Road, Rathgar, Dublin 6, and Coologmartin, Donadea, Co Kildare (thejournal.ie)
- whereWalsh is formerly of Belgrave Road, Rathgar, Dublin 6, and Coologmartin, Donadea, Co Kildare (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe indecent assault on the seven-year-old girl occurred on two occasions between 1 May 1988 and 30 September 1988. (kildarenow.com)
- whenThe indecent assaults occurred on two occasions between 1 May 1988 and 30 September 1988 (thejournal.ie)
- courtWalsh's conviction for indecent assault was overturned by the Court of Appeal. (kildarenow.com)
- courtWalsh was convicted of two counts of indecent assault by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 21 October 2010 before Judge Pat McCartan. (kildarenow.com)
- courtWalsh featured in articles in the Sunday World and News of the World on the day before his trial began on 18 October 2010. (kildarenow.com)
- courtA Sunday World article was headlined 'Rossi raped girl (9) on beach, now she's got justice'. (kildarenow.com)
- courtWalsh complained of the media coverage to the trial judge but did not request an adjournment. (kildarenow.com)
- courtIn June 2021, Walsh's legal team submitted at the Court of Appeal that the trial judge erred in not adjourning the trial to allow a 'fade factor' to elapse. (kildarenow.com)
- courtA News of the World article about a different accused referred to Walsh as a 'convicted perv' and a 'leading general in Martin The General Cahill's mob'. (kildarenow.com)
- courtThe Sunday World article referred to Walsh with a photo as 'perverted Stephen Walsh'. (kildarenow.com)
- courtMr Justice John Edwards said Walsh was 'justified' in his complaint regarding the adverse publicity issue. (kildarenow.com)
- courtMr Justice Edwards said the coverage was 'highly egregious' to Walsh. (kildarenow.com)
- courtThe trial judge warned the jury about online searches but did not warn them of newspaper coverage. (kildarenow.com, irishtimes.com)
- courtMr Justice Edwards said the judge's charge to the jury was 'insufficient' regarding media coverage. (kildarenow.com)
- courtThe trial was at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Pat McCartan (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe Court of Appeal quashed Walsh's conviction on 8 December 2022 (thejournal.ie)
- courtWalsh's conviction for two counts of indecent assault was quashed by the Court of Appeal (irishtimes.com)
- courtWalsh argued he could not get a fair trial due to adverse pre-trial media coverage (irishtimes.com)
- courtWalsh was convicted on 21 October 2010 by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of two counts of indecent assault before Judge Pat McCartan (irishtimes.com)
- courtWalsh featured in Sunday World and News of the World articles on the day before his trial began on 18 October 2010 (irishtimes.com)
- courtWalsh complained to the trial judge about the coverage but did not request an adjournment (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceWalsh was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for the indecent assault. (kildarenow.com)
- sentenceWalsh had a 10-year sentence imposed by Mr Justice Paul Carney in February 2010 for raping a nine-year-old girl in the early 1990s. (kildarenow.com, thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
- sentenceIn November 2010, Judge McCartan made the three-year sentence consecutive to the 10-year rape sentence. (kildarenow.com, irishtimes.com)
- sentenceIn December 2011, Walsh received another consecutive 12-year sentence for sexual assault and defilement of a child on dates in 2008 and 2009. (kildarenow.com)
- sentenceIn December 2011 Walsh received a consecutive 12-year sentence for sexual assault and defilement of a child in 2008 and 2009 (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 8 Dec2022Child rapist has conviction for indecent assault overturned due to pre-trial media coverage
Court of Appeal quashed Walsh's 2010 indecent assault conviction, finding the trial judge's jury charge was insufficient regarding pre-trial newspaper coverage that referred to his other convictions and gang associations.
accused, Stephen 'Rossi' Walsh, 75, male, named, irish (judged from name)Stephen 'Rossi' Walshvictim, 7, female - 8 Dec2022Stephen 'Rossi' Walsh wins appeal over indecent assault conviction on girl over media coverage
The Court of Appeal quashed Walsh's 2010 conviction, finding the trial judge's jury charge was insufficient regarding adverse pre-trial media coverage that described him as a 'perverted' child rapist and a member of Martin 'The General' Cahill's gang.
accused, Stephen 'Rossi' Walsh, 75, male, named, irish (judged from name)Stephen 'Rossi' Walshvictim, 7, female - 8 Dec2022Man with Kildare address wins appeal over indecent assault conviction on girl (7) over "adverse" media coverage
Court of Appeal quashed Walsh's 2010 conviction for two counts of indecent assault, finding the trial judge's jury charge was insufficient regarding adverse pre-trial media coverage in the Sunday World and News of the World.
victim, 7, femaleconvicted, Stephen 'Rossi' Walsh, 75, male, named, irish (judged from name)Stephen 'Rossi' Walsh