Man loses appeal against conviction for sexually abusing young daughter in 1980s

Dublin District Court. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA

Paul Neilan

A pensioner who argued that alleged missing evidence from a "healer" meant his trial for sexually abusing his young daughter in the 1980s was unfair has lost an appeal against his conviction.

The man (73), who cannot be named in order to protect the identity of his victim, was convicted in May 2023 by a jury before Judge Martin Nolan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He had pleaded not guilty to two counts of indecent assault but was sentenced to three years and six months' imprisonment to run concurrently.