Courts / Cork / Report
"Sorry for being a bollocks": rapist's text to victim
Summary
Eamon Roche, 28, of Ballymorrough, was sentenced to six years in prison for raping his ex‑girlfriend after a high‑speed chase with Gardaí. Roche texted the victim hours after the rape, saying, "Sorry for being a bollocks." He denied the rape charge in a rural Cork court on 21 March 2015. The victim, who was in Roche's car, described a chase where Roche drove at "crazy, ridiculous" speeds, refusing to stop for a patrol. She was forced to climb onto a lay‑by, where Roche climbed on top of her and raped her. The case had gone to trial three times; a jury found him guilty. The judge set a headline sentence of seven years, reduced to six because of mitigating letters, and imposed no suspended portion. Roche was ordered never to contact the complainant and to remain under probation supervision for two years upon release.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: "Sorry for being a bollocks": rapist's text to victim. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Found guilty
When:
- March 21, 2015 Incident
- April 4 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2019-05-17 Publication
Why: She had to abandon her chosen career because of the pressure of the court proceedings. CNI source report
Case subjects
Applicant
Finding: Found guilty
Outcome: Found guilty; The judge set a headline sentence of seven years but reduced this by a year because of mitigating factors, including letters describing Roche as a valued member of his family and community. Mr Justice McDermott refused to allocate any suspended portion to the sentence because of Roche's unwillingness to accept the guilty verdict, which he said was a "cause for concern".
Places mentioned
Topics
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