Courts / Dublin / Report

Rapist impersonated garda and threatened to arrest schoolgirl

Date
2018-01-26
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Dublin City
County
Dublin

Summary

Paul Buckley, 45, pleaded guilty to impersonating a garda at Aston Quay, Dublin, on November 11, 2017. The court heard that Buckley, a registered sex offender, approached a teenage girl in school uniform, displayed a business card with a garda logo, and threatened to arrest her for skipping school. He allegedly rubbed her hand, called her sexy, and told her she could not leave. Buckley was identified via CCTV and arrested. He admitted to gardai that he struggled with alcohol abuse. Prosecutors stated Buckley revealed to the Probation Service that the offence was sexually motivated, while his defense counsel argued his motive was to seek human interaction due to loneliness and depression. Buckley was previously convicted of rape and assault causing harm in October 2005, for which he was jailed for four years at the Central Criminal Court. He was released in autumn 2009. Judge Martin Nolan remanded Buckley in custody and stated he would sentence him on Monday. The matter was adjourned for sentencing.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Rapist impersonated garda and threatened to arrest schoolgirl. Charges or matters: impersonation of a garda at Aston Quay, Dublin on November 11, 2017; rape and assault causing harm in Oct 2005. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted

When:

Why: The girl told him she had skipped school that day because she didn't want to do a PE test. CNI source report

Case subjects

Paul Buckley

Convicted Person

Charges: impersonation of a garda at Aston Quay, Dublin on November 11, 2017; rape and assault causing harm in Oct 2005 (Proven)

Plea: Guilty

Finding: Convicted

Outcome: Convicted; Paul Buckley (45) was jailed for four years in 2005 after a trial at the Central Criminal Court heard he had battered and raped a woman who was making her way home after a night out drinking. Judge Martin Nolan said he would sentence Buckley on Monday and remanded him in custody until then.; Judge Martin Nolan said he would sentence Buckley on Monday and remanded him in custody until then.

Places mentioned

Court Venue
  • Central Criminal Court
  • Dublin
  • Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
  • Cork
  • Cork Circuit Criminal Court
Residence
Incident

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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