Court overturns life sentence for man convicted of abusing girl

A life sentence handed down to convicted armed robber Christy Griffin for raping and sexually abusing a young girl has been overturned on appeal.

The 41-year-old of Ridgewood Green, Swords in Dublin will now serve 15 years having been convicted on two counts of rape and nine counts of indecent assault on dates between 1993 and 2001.

Christopher Griffin's lawyers argued Mr Justice Paul Carney had erred “very substantially” in handing down the maximum life penalty.

And the Court of Criminal Appeal has effectively agreed and found, while the offences were extremely serious, they were not so exceptional as to warrant the imposition of a life sentence.

It has found Judge Carney seems to have paid too much regard to Christy Griffin's 18 previous convictions which he described as "horrendous".

While some involved firearms and two were for aggravated burglary and robbery the court has found the majority were committed while Griffin was a juvenile and a number are road traffic offences.

Christy Griffin's victim was aged eight and 16 when he abused her and the court has found a very severe sentence of 15 years is warranted given her youth and the severe trauma she endured.