Abuse charges against Galway man dropped
Galway Bay fm newsroom - Charges against a Galway man who pleaded guilty to raping his niece have been withdrawn after the girl later admitted she was lying.
The girl, who is now aged 18, told gardaí that her mother made her file a complaint to gardaí and social services when she was about ten years old, claiming her uncle had abused her.
The 41-year-old man, who can't be named for legal reasons, had maintained his innocence until the trial.
He pleaded guilty on the day because he said he was "completely terrified" of going to prison.
He believed a guilty plea offered the best chance of avoiding a jail sentence.
At the Central Criminal Court yesterday, Senior Counsel Conor Devally, prosecuting, applied for all counts against the man to be withdrawn.
This was granted by Justice Iseult O'Malley.