ALAN DOHENY'S REIGN OF TERROR IN WYTHENSHAWE: FROM WRONGFUL CONVICTION TO REPEATED SEX OFFENSES

In a disturbing series of events spanning over a decade, Alan Doheny, a man with a long and troubling criminal history rooted in Wythenshawe, Manchester, has once again found himself behind bars following a recent conviction for sexual assault and physical violence.

His criminal journey began with a conviction in 1990 for the brutal rape of an elderly woman in Ashton-under-Lyne. During that attack, Doheny forced his way into her home, inflicted severe injuries including a broken cheekbone and internal trauma, and raped her twice. Forensic evidence played a crucial role in his initial conviction, with DNA profiling linking his blood to sperm found at the scene. The scientific evidence was considered highly conclusive at the time, with the prosecution asserting that the odds of him not being the attacker were 40 million to one. Consequently, he was sentenced to eight years in prison, a sentence later increased to 12 years after an appeal initiated by the Attorney General.

However, in August 1996, the Court of Appeal overturned his conviction, citing issues with the DNA evidence, which was deemed 'faulty.' The judges stated that the chances of his innocence were 41,000 to one. Following this ruling, Doheny received a £75,000 interim compensation payment, with an additional £150,000 promised. During this period, Doheny publicly expressed his desire to use the compensation money to purchase a bar in Spain.

Despite his release, Doheny's criminal behavior did not cease. Just 16 months after being freed, he committed a heinous assault on a young girl. After a night of drinking in a pub, he manipulated his way into her home, dismissing the babysitter and snatching the child from her bed. Over the course of a two-hour ordeal, Doheny battered and bit the girl, raped her twice, and attempted to strangle her. The child's mother, a barmaid, returned home to find her daughter sobbing in a pool of blood, with Doheny casually dismissing the incident by asking, 'What’s all the fuss about?' Doheny later claimed that his actions were a consequence of the wrongful conviction, asserting it had 'turned him into a man capable of terrible acts.'

In 1998, Doheny was sentenced to 12 years for this assault, but it is believed he served only about six years before being released once again. His pattern of violence persisted, and in May 2010, he was involved in yet another serious incident. According to Greater Manchester Police, the latest attack occurred at approximately 12:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 6, 2010. Doheny, then 46 years old and residing in Wythenshawe, was driving in Manchester city centre when he encountered a 29-year-old woman. He convinced her to get into his Renault Megane, and the pair drove to a nearby wooded area. There, Doheny subjected her to a sustained physical and sexual assault, battering her and inflicting multiple injuries. The woman managed to escape, leaving her partially clothed and visibly distressed. Witnesses who saw her fleeing and later helped her provided police with Doheny's vehicle registration details.

Detective Constable Simon McGauley commented on the case, emphasizing the severity of Doheny's actions: 'Doheny subjected his victim to an awful physical and sexual assault, and I have no doubt that the horror would have continued had she not managed to escape. While her physical injuries have healed, the emotional scars will remain with her for the rest of her life. His past record proves he is a danger to children as well as women, and I am pleased he will spend a long time behind bars where he can no longer pose such a threat.'

Following his latest conviction, Alan Doheny was sentenced to an indeterminate term for public protection at Bolton Crown Court. He is required to serve a minimum of four years before he can be considered for parole, ensuring that he remains incarcerated for a significant period to protect the community from further harm.