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24/04/2008
Man Cleared Of 'Raping' Girl Of 13
An historic court decision has cleared a man who had sex with a 13-year-old girl.
For the first time in an Irish court, the man - who was 20 at the time - successfully argued that he was unaware she was under the age of consent.
The north Dublin man, referred to as Mr K, was the first male to offer the defence of believing at the time that she was old enough to legally consent to having sex with him.
Mr K denied sexually assaulting the then 13-year-old girl after they had consumed some alcohol. He told the court in he believed she was aged "17 going on 18" when they had sex.
The jury also heard evidence from a pharmacist who sold her an inhaler at that time, believing she was about 21. Female witnesses said they also believed she was 18 or older.
The jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court took less than one hour to acquit 'Mr K' of sexually assaulting the girl in Howth on October 18, 2001.
The now 20-year-old woman told her father and the gardai some days later that she had not been raped by him. "I knew what I was doing. I was a bit drunk."
The accused was among a number of men originally indicted for having unlawful carnal knowledge, until the Supreme Court ruled the legislation under which they were charged was unconstitutional as there was no capability for a defence of genuine belief as to age. See: Donegal Teenager Challenges Law On Statutory Rape
(DW/JM)
For the first time in an Irish court, the man - who was 20 at the time - successfully argued that he was unaware she was under the age of consent.
The north Dublin man, referred to as Mr K, was the first male to offer the defence of believing at the time that she was old enough to legally consent to having sex with him.
Mr K denied sexually assaulting the then 13-year-old girl after they had consumed some alcohol. He told the court in he believed she was aged "17 going on 18" when they had sex.
The jury also heard evidence from a pharmacist who sold her an inhaler at that time, believing she was about 21. Female witnesses said they also believed she was 18 or older.
The jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court took less than one hour to acquit 'Mr K' of sexually assaulting the girl in Howth on October 18, 2001.
The now 20-year-old woman told her father and the gardai some days later that she had not been raped by him. "I knew what I was doing. I was a bit drunk."
The accused was among a number of men originally indicted for having unlawful carnal knowledge, until the Supreme Court ruled the legislation under which they were charged was unconstitutional as there was no capability for a defence of genuine belief as to age. See: Donegal Teenager Challenges Law On Statutory Rape
(DW/JM)
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Fianna Fáil TD Charlie O’Connor, who is a member of the South Dublin County Joint Policing Committee, has welcomed the activation of a CCTV scheme in Tallaght, yesterday. Tallaght is the largest town in county Dublin outside the capital city centre.
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Suspended Sentence In 'Romeo And Juliet' Underage Sex Case
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A 21-year-old man has been given a six month suspended sentence after admitting he had sex with a girl when they were both teenagers. The man, from Co Donegal, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Letterkenny Circuit Court yesterday, where he admitted he had sex with the girl but insisted it was by consent.
02 September 2019
Elderly Man Killed In Waterford House Fire
An elderly man has died following a house fire in Waterford city. Emergency services were called to the scene in Balleytruckle Court shortly before 5am on Saturday 31 August. The blaze was brought under control by fire crews however the man's body was located in the house. Gardaí say foul play is not currently suspected.
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An elderly man has died following a house fire in Waterford city. Emergency services were called to the scene in Balleytruckle Court shortly before 5am on Saturday 31 August. The blaze was brought under control by fire crews however the man's body was located in the house. Gardaí say foul play is not currently suspected.
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Ireland WeatherToday:Gale, coastal severe gale, northwest winds ease from late afternoon. Scattered showers will fall as snow over the hills at first, becoming isolated from mid-afternoon. Maximum temperature 7 °C.Tonight:Showers, scattered in the evening, will clear by midnight leaving the night dry with clear spells. Cloud will spread east towards morning. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
