Nun jailed for rape of girl, 10

A FORMER nun was jailed for life yesterday for the rape of a 10-year-old girl in her care despite claims by defence lawyers that her conviction was possibly a miscarriage of justice.

Nora Wall, 51, formerly known as Sister Dominic, was convicted by a majority verdict last month at Dublin Central Criminal Court of helping an accomplice rape the girl at St Michael's Child Care Centre at Cappoquin, Co Waterford.

Mr Justice Paul Carney said Wall was "the leader" in the offence, which occurred between January 1987 and December 1989. He said she had been in charge of the home for up to 30 children and was "the only person in the world" responsible for protecting the child at the time.

Wall's co-accused, Paul "Pablo" McCabe, 50, a homeless man who had himself been brought up at an "industrial school" at the same location, received a 12-year sentence.

Mr Justice Paul Carney said there were some rape cases "so gross and so appalling that the courts must not resile from the principle of imposing the maximum sentence".