Courts / Kildare / Report
Woman describes violent relationship with solider who raped, harassed and threatened to kill her
Summary
A woman, aged in her early 20s, described a violent relationship with former soldier Niall Kennedy (31). She met him on Tinder in December 2016 and they began a relationship that involved constant harassment, unwanted contact, and repeated threats to kill her or her friends. Kennedy was convicted in December 2021 of 12 counts of rape on eleven occasions in August 2017, plus multiple counts of harassment and threats. He denied the charges and refused to accept the verdicts. After his conviction, the state objected to his remand on bail, but he was released under strict conditions, including no contact with the victim, sobriety, and a daily curfew. The victim, who was "on high alert" and feared retaliation, gave a victim impact statement describing the abuse, her fear, and her recovery. The court adjourned his sentence hearing to February 21, 2024, and ordered him to be taken into custody.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Woman describes violent relationship with solider who raped, harassed and threatened to kill her. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted
When:
- August 2017 Adjournment
- June 2017 Adjournment
- December 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
- February 21 Adjournment
- Christmas Other
- 2022-02-11 Publication
Why: Today, I am proud of myself because I don't see myself as a victim any more. CNI source report
Case subjects
Applicant
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; Last month, a sentence hearing was adjourned after Kennedy's lawyers told the court their client was reported to have Covid 19. At a sentence hearing at the Central Criminal Court, sitting in Croke Park today, Mr Justice Paul Burns made an order permitting publication of Kennedy's identity after the complainant told the judge that she was happy that naming him now would not disclose her own identity.; Last month, a sentence hearing was adjourned after Kennedy's lawyers told the court their client was reported to have Covid 19.
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
- Croke Park
Topics
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