A roundup of today's other court news in brief
Criticism of families for not backing victims
A circuit court judge has criticised families who fail to stand by sex assault victims as “despicable”.
Judge Frank O’Donnell made the comments yesterday after hearing that some members of the family of a Dublin woman, who was sexually abused by her father as a child, turned against her after the allegations came out.
The man pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 34 counts of sexual assault of his daughter at their Dublin home between 1995 and 1997. She was 14 when the abuse began.
The judge said he had no sympathy for a family that “stands back”, and that he “has more sympathy for the accused and victim”.
He said families that failed to stand by the victims were an aggravating factor, whose actions were “despicable, to put it mildly”. He said such cases were “sad, sad, sad” and made his job much more difficult.
Referring to the 25-year- old woman’s case, Judge O’Donnell added: “It’s a disgrace, an absolute disgrace. I really feel that people who should be helping her have a lot to answer for.”
He released the father (46) on bail so he could consider sentence, but he said there was “no way” he was not going to impose a prison sentence for his “reprehensible” behaviour.
Hotel manager’s dismissal restrained
The general manager of Citywest Hotel in Dublin is entitled to an injunction restraining his dismissal, which appeared to have been “brutally and unlawfully” effected last Christmas Eve, a High Court judge has ruled.
The injunction granted by Mr Justice Seán Ryan to John Glynn (59) will continue pending the outcome of his full action against the Mansfield group – HSS Ltd – trading as Citywest Hotel.
Mr Glynn will continue, pending the full trial, to be paid a salary of €150,000 per annum and is also to receive back pay to Christmas Eve, the judge has ruled.
Mr Glynn had claimed Seán Whelan, chief executive of the Mansfield Group, had been trying to undermine him since last May. This was denied.
82-year-old guilty of indecent assault
An 82-year-old man, who was yesterday convicted by a jury of indecently assaulting three schoolgirls more than 20 years ago, has been released on bail pending sentence.
Judge John O’Hagan granted bail despite pleas from the prosecution who argued that man was now a convicted paedophile and that two of the complainants lived in the same area and had small children going to national school there.
On the fourth day of the trial yesterday at Carrick-on- Shannon Circuit Court, the jury found the accused guilty of seven counts of indecent assault committed from 1981 to 1991.
The trial heard that one of the complainants was a next-door neighbour of the defendant and used to play ball with his son.
Time limit for Lillis appeal expires
Eamonn Lillis, convicted of the manslaughter of his wife Celine Cawley, has not lodged notice of appeal of his conviction or sentence, which should have been done in the office of the Court of Criminal Appeal by close of business yesterday.
The 21-day period in which to do so has now expired. Any future appeal that may be sought after the now-expired period could only proceed with the permission of the court, after an application for an extension of time.