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Rapist who impersonated garda and threatened to arrest schoolgirl is jailed for six months
Summary
Paul Buckley, a 45‑year‑old Cork man, was sentenced to six months' imprisonment on 29 January 2018 for impersonating a Garda and threatening to arrest a schoolgirl. In November 2017, while drinking in Dublin city centre, Buckley approached a teenage girl in school uniform, claimed to be a Garda, and offered her a coffee. When she declined, he threatened to arrest her for truancy, rubbed her hand, and told her she was "sexy". The girl reported feeling uncomfortable and frightened. Buckley pleaded guilty to the impersonation offence. The judge, citing the seriousness of impersonating a Garda, imposed the six‑month term, noting that the court could not infer beyond reasonable doubt that Buckley intended sexual assault. Buckley's prior convictions include a 2005 rape and assault conviction. The sentence reflects the offence of impersonation, with no mention of any suspended portion or effective custody beyond the six‑month term.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Rapist who impersonated garda and threatened to arrest schoolgirl is jailed for six months. 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:
- November 11, 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2018-01-29 Publication
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
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. Sentencing him today, Judge Martin Nolan said he must give Buckley the "benefit of the doubt" about his motive for approaching the girl. "I can't infer beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant in this case intended to cause harm to the young lady," the judge said. "I can't infer he intended, for instance, to sexually assault her." The judge noted impersonating a garda was a serious offence and he handed down a six-month sentence.
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