A man who was due to be sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for raping his wife wants to change his plea to not guilty. The 43-year-old father of a family, from Co Sligo, pleaded guilty on June 6th to committing the offence at the family home on July 21st, 1997. Mr Justice Smith remanded him in custody for sentencing after his wife gave lengthy evidence.
But when the case was called for sentencing, Mr Mark de Blacam SC, defending, said his client wished to change his plea, and asked for an adjournment. Mr Marcus Daly SC, prosecuting, said he would like to have notice on affidavit of the grounds on which the man sought to change his plea.
Mr Justice Smith adjourned the case until July 28th and directed that the man's affidavit laying out why he should be allowed change his plea should be made available to the prosecution within 10 days.