Rapist appeals against life sentence

A man who was jailed for life for raping four of his daughters has argued on appeal that victim support should not become the “dynamic factor” in the imposition of life sentences.

Submissions were heard yesterday morning in an appeal against sentence brought by the now 52-year-old man, who must wait until the new year to find out if the appeal has been successful.

In Dec 2011 the man, who cannot be named in order to protect the identity of the victims, was jailed for life by Mr Justice Paul Carney at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Castlebar, Co Mayo.