Man who repeatedly raped wife under 'guise of Catholic entitlements' sent to prison

'For centuries, the rape of women in marriage was not seen as a criminal offence,' the judge said. 'The jury verdicts in this case confirms such a view is no longer held in the community.'

The judge handed down a sentence of 11 years and suspended the final 18 months on a number of conditions, including that he have no contact with his former wife for a period of five years after his release.

A man who repeatedly raped his wife during their lengthy marriage “under the guise of Catholic entitlements” has been jailed for nine-and-a-half years.

The 57-year-old Dublin man, who can't be named to protect the identity of his former wife, was found guilty by a Central Criminal Court jury of five counts of raping her in the family home and a holiday home on dates in 2006 and 2018.