The Supreme Court, by a three to two majority, has dismissed a man’s appeal over his conviction for rape of his niece when she was 11-years-old. Mr Justice Donal O’Donnell, Mr Justice Peter Charleton and Ms Justice Iseeult O’Malley dismissed the appeal while the Chief Justice, Mr Justice Frank Clarke, and Mr Justice John MacMenamin, dissented. It was alleged the offences occurred during a holiday when the niece was visiting her uncle and other family members. The niece alleged the partner undressed her, put her into the bed beside her uncle and left after which her uncle raped her. The trial judge then finally proceeds, in light of all those factors, to assess if the trial was fair or not.

Source: The Irish Times December 20, 2019 10:07 UTC