Man jailed for defilement gets bail after objecting to judge's comments on 'Bart Simpson defence'

A 33-year-old man convicted of defiling a child at his home has been granted bail pending his appeal against conviction at the Court of Appeal in Dublin. The man, whose identity is protected to safeguard the complainant, was convicted by majority jury verdict at Castlebar Circuit Court in 2020 of defilement and sentenced to two years imprisonment with the final year suspended. He was acquitted of a separate sexual assault charge relating to the same complainant. His legal team objected to the trial judge's references during jury directions to the prosecution's characterisation of the defence as a "Bart Simpson defence", arguing this amounted to judicial advocacy and rendered the trial unfair. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy found the threshold for bail was met, particularly regarding comments she identified as potentially prejudicial. The man was released on his own bond of €150 with a €5,000 cash lodgement, subject to conditions including attendance at a local garda station three times weekly. The appeal hearing is scheduled for 7 May.