The Court of Appeal has ruled that the sentence handed down to Patrick O’Brien for raping his daughter Fiona Doyle was unduly lenient.
The 74-year-old from Oldcourt in Bray, Co Wicklow was originally jailed for three years for inflicting a decade of abuse against his daughter, Fiona Doyle between 1973 to 1982.
Mr. Justice Paul Carney’s decision to grant Mr O’Brien bail pending an appeal caused a public outcry that led to him being taken into custody three days later.
Almost two years later, his sentence of 12 years with nine suspended was the subject of today’s appeal.
The DPP argued that suspending so much of his sentence because of his old age and ill-health was unduly lenient and the Court of Appeal today agreed.
A decision on a new sentence will be made next month.
Speaking afterwards, Fiona Doyle said she was thrilled with the verdict:
