From 2005: Woman sentenced for false rape claim

A WOMAN who made a false statement to gardai claiming she had been raped by a man whom she also alleged was sexually abusing his children has been given a three-year suspended sentence.

Carmel Byrne (42), of Balbutcher Lane, Ballymun, Dublin, also told gardai the man had threatened her 17 times on the phone that he would shoot her.

She pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to making the false statement and to wasting garda time by claiming to have information material to their inquiries on September 17, 2002.

Judge Michael White told Byrne he was appalled by her allegations and the effect they had on the man and his children whose mother had died tragically.

He said her allegations were "quite properly" taken seriously by the gardai and had put the victim into an awful situation where he was arrested and detained, while the children were put into care for almost a fortnight. The man and his children had been very upset by what happened.

Garda Noeleen McKenna agreed with defence counsel, Aileen Donnelly SC, that Byrne was a woman "with man problems" and who made her allegations after the victim didn't wish to maintain a liaison with her.

Ms Donnelly said Byrne apologised for the upset she had caused.