Courts / Waterford / Report
Six-year jail sentence for man who raped 16-year-old girl and threatened to throw her in river
Summary
Peter Halligan, 23, of Kilcohan Park, Waterford, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for rape and oral rape committed at a riverbank in Waterford City on July 24, 2014. Halligan pleaded not guilty to both charges but was convicted by a jury after four hours of deliberation. The court heard that the accused, who had just left his girlfriend's house, covered his face and grabbed the 16-year-old victim from behind as she walked home. He threatened to throw her into the river and assaulted her in a quiet laneway. Although Halligan initially denied the attack, claiming another man was responsible or that the victim approached him, DNA evidence matched him to the scene. Mr Justice Paul Butler noted Halligan had no previous convictions, is a father to a six-year-old son, and had completed prison courses. The judge described the eight-year sentence as being in the middle of the scale but suspended two years, resulting in an effective six-year jail term. The judge stated Halligan was thought unlikely to re-offend. The victim, who was not present, submitted a report detailing trauma, flashbacks, and vulnerability. The matter was finalised with this sentence.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Six-year jail sentence for man who raped 16-year-old girl and threatened to throw her in river. Charges or matters: rape and oral rape at a riverbank in Waterford City on July 24, 2014. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted
When:
- July 24, 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2017-03-13 Publication
Why: She also suggested to him that because he was under 21 he would not go to prison if he stopped now. CNI source report
Case subjects
Accused
Charges: rape and oral rape at a riverbank in Waterford City on July 24, 2014 (Proven)
Plea: Not guilty
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; The judge said Halligan was thought unlikely to re-offend and suspended two years of an eight year sentence, which he described as being 'in the middle of the sentence scale'.
Places mentioned
Topics
Sexual Offences Stage Sentence
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