A Co Roscommon farmer who raped a Co Galway mother in his home in 1995 was jailed for 8 1/2 years yesterday. Mr Justice Feargus Flood said the man had added to his victim's trauma by having a solicitor's letter sent to her threatening to sue her for defamation after she reported the rape.
The Central Criminal Court heard that Andrew Murray (51), of Castlecoote, Co Roscommon, had already been convicted of the killing of his first wife. He had been charged with her murder in 1975, but received a two-year sentence after he pleaded guilty to her manslaughter.
In April this year, the father of five was convicted by a jury after a four-day trial of raping and sexually assaulting a married woman from Co Galway in his home on July 30th, 1995. He had denied the charges.