DRCC commends the bravery of the young man in the case of the father who was found guilty of raping his young son and thanks him for his service to society

While the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) welcomes the 14 year sentence handed down today by Justice Barry White in the case of a 52 year old father who was found guilty of raping his young son, it is astounded at Justice White’s decision to suspend the final 18 months, taking into account the man’s previous lack of convictions.

Ellen O’Malley-Dunlop, Chief Executive, DRCC, said “The young man, who bravely withstood the further trauma of being cross examined in the witness box, and of following through with the case against his father, who between 2001 and 2004 committed the most reprehensible crimes against his son, is to be commended for his bravery and thanked for his service to all of us as a society. He was not only abused and let down by his father, but he told us in his victim impact statement that he feels that now he has a stigma attached to him “that lad who was abused by his father’. We owe this young man a great debt and we must help him realise that it is his father who is stigmatised and not him.

Men like his father who was found guilty of crimes he denied, and because he denied the crimes his son had to endure the further ordeal of the court process, should not be afforded any leniency. Justice White’s reason for suspending the last 18 months of the sentence was because of the man’s lack of any previous convictions. Given the grievous nature of the crimes this does not send out a good message to either victims or perpetrators. The man was found guilty he showed no remorse he should have to endure the full sentence.”

For further information please contact:
Ellen O’Malley-Dunlop, CEO, DRCC – 01 661 4911 / 086 809 9618