Munster abuse trial: Children's uncles bid to overturn convictions on basis of letter sent to trial judge

Altogether, five family members had been found guilty by the jury on all but one of the 78 counts against them following a 10-week trial held at Croke Park in summer 2021

In January 2022 at the Central Criminal Court, the children's two uncles were jailed for 15 years each by Mr Justice Paul McDermott for abusing the three children — a niece and two nephews.

Two men who were jailed as part of the Munster abuse trial for the rape, abuse and exploitation of their child relatives have appealed their convictions over a letter sent to the trial judge by the jury foreman after the panel had delivered their verdict.

The 2021 trial heard harrowing evidence that the child victims were small and thin for their age and suffered a range of issues while in the care of their parents including chronic tooth decay, dietary problems and low weight, recurring head lice and scabies, third-degree sunburn and marks and scarring to their bodies. They had a wide range of behavioural issues including hyper-vigilance, over-compliance and anxiety.