The Court of Criminal Appeal yesterday suspended the final six years of a 12-year sentence imposed on a man for rape.
However, the three-judge court rejected the man's appeal against his conviction on two counts of rape and one of sexual assault. He was jailed for 12 years for the rape counts and four years for the sexual assault charge, both sentences to run concurrently.
Mr Justice Barron said it was the court's view that the trial judge had failed to give adequate consideration to the mental disorder of the man, induced by alcohol abuse.
It seemed the appropriate sentence would be to suspend the last six years of the 12-year term on condition the man keep the peace during that period, submit to such treatment as may be prescribed by the health board and report to his local Garda station and health board within a week of his release and afterwards as the health board may require with such treatment.