Courts / Clare / Report
12 years for man who twice raped teenaged schoolgirl
Summary
In a 2019 Central Criminal Court hearing, Richard O'Mara, aged 31, was convicted of two counts of rape against a 17‑year‑old schoolgirl who attended his sister's eighteenth birthday party. The first rape occurred in a field where O'Mara forced the victim onto the ground, removed her clothing and raped her. The second rape took place in his family house, where he again forced her to lie on a couch, removed her jeans and underwear and raped her. O'Mara pleaded not guilty but was found guilty by a jury after a two‑and‑a‑half‑week trial. Justice Tara Burns sentenced him to 14 years' imprisonment, suspending the final two years on strict conditions. The sentence reflected the seriousness of the offences, the victim's young age, the two separate rapes and the lack of remorse shown by the accused. No prior convictions were recorded for O'Mara.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 12 years for man who twice raped teenaged schoolgirl. Charges or matters: two counts of rape at Ballymulcashel, Kilmurry, Sixmilebridge, Co Clare, on October 18, 2015; both counts by a jury at the Central Criminal Court following a two-and-a-half-week trial in April. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted
When:
- October 18, 2015 Incident
- 2019-06-06 Publication
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: two counts of rape at Ballymulcashel, Kilmurry, Sixmilebridge, Co Clare, on October 18, 2015; both counts by a jury at the Central Criminal Court following a two-and-a-half-week trial in April (Proven)
Plea: Not guilty
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; Passing sentence today, Ms Justice Burns described the offence as a "vicious, horrifying attack" in which O'Mara had used "deceit, violence and force to rape her (the victim) in the field". Ms Justice Tara Burns sentenced O'Mara to 14 years' imprisonment, but suspended the final two years on strict conditions.
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
Topics
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