Courts / Dublin / Report
12-year sentence for gamer convention rapist Hearne is upheld
Summary
In 2017, Keith Hearne, aged 30, was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment for raping Dominique Meehan at a gaming convention in Blanchardstown. He pleaded guilty to two counts of rape, one of oral rape and one of false imprisonment. Hearne's appeal argued that his psychiatric illnesses should have reduced the sentence, but the Court of Appeal found he had no active symptoms at the time of the offence and therefore his mental state did not affect culpability. The court upheld the 12‑year term, noting the severity of the violent, premeditated attack and the presence of weapons and sadomasochistic items in his rucksack. The appeal was dismissed, and Meehan expressed relief that the sentence was maintained, though she remains affected by the assault.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 12-year sentence for gamer convention rapist Hearne is upheld. Charges or matters: two counts of rape, one count of oral rape and one count of falsely imprisoning Dominique Meehan at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Blanchardstown on July 4, 2015. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- July 4, 2015 Incident
- June 2017 Incident
- 2019-05-13 Publication
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: two counts of rape, one count of oral rape and one count of falsely imprisoning Dominique Meehan at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Blanchardstown on July 4, 2015 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Credit: Collins) A man jailed for raping a woman during a gaming convention has lost an appeal against the severity of his 12-year prison sentence.
Appellant
Charges: two counts of rape, one count of oral rape and one count of falsely imprisoning Dominique Meehan at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Blanchardstown on July 4, 2015 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Hearne sought to appeal the severity of his sentence on grounds that the sentencing judge failed attach sufficient weight to his psychiatric illnesses.
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