Dublin criminal and serial abuser Rossi Walsh to apply for bail pending appeal

Dublin criminal and serial child abuser Stephen "Rossi" Walsh will apply for bail pending appeals against his separate convictions for rape, indecent assault and defilement of a child.

Walsh (aged 65) formerly of Belgrave Road, Rathgar in Dublin, is currently serving a 10-year sentence imposed by Mr Justice Paul Carney in February 2010 for raping a nine-year-old girl 20 years ago.

In November 2010 Judge Patrick McCartan imposed a consecutive three-year sentence on Walsh for indecently assaulting a seven-year-old girl in 1988, while in December 2011 Walsh received another consecutive 12-year sentence for sexual assault and defilement of a child on dates in 2008 and 2009.

Walsh has appeals pending against all three convictions. His previous convictions include a 15-year arson sentence imposed by the Special Criminal Court in 1993.

Mr John Peart SC this morning told the Court of Criminal Appeal that Derek Burke Solicitors were representing Walsh on two of the appeals, but were applying to come off record as Walsh now wished to represent himself.

Walsh agreed with Mr Justice Adrian Hardiman that he intended to file grounds of appeal and seek bail pending his appeal against the 2009 conviction for rape.

Mr Justice Hardiman told Walsh that he was entitled to act for himself, but the responsibility of getting papers to court and putting things in proper order was entirely up to him.

He said the bail application would be listed when Walsh files his submissions on the application.