Courts / Ireland / Report

Man jailed for raping best friend

Date
2022-05-13
Stage
Sentence

Summary

A 27‑year‑old man was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment for raping a 21‑year‑old woman he described as his best friend and "like a brother." He was charged on 7 November 2018, convicted on 15 November 2021, and pleaded not guilty. At sentencing, he maintained he was unaware the victim had not consented. The victim's impact statement described him as a confidant and protector, noting a loss of trust and increased wariness of others. Justice Deirdre Murphy highlighted the breach of trust and the victim's altered worldview, noting the man's prior good character and potential for rehabilitation. She imposed a seven‑year sentence, suspended the final three and a half years, and required probation, offence‑focused work, and assessment for sex‑offender and alcohol treatment programmes. The sentence was back‑dated to the previous November.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Man jailed for raping best friend. Charges or matters: a single count of rape on November 7, 2018. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted

When:

Why: The man, who is aged 27 and cannot be named in order to protect the identity of his victim, was charged with a single count of rape on November 7, 2018. CNI source report

Case subjects

Unnamed man

Convicted Person

Charges: a single count of rape on November 7, 2018 (Proven)

Plea: Not guilty

Finding: Convicted

Outcome: Convicted; By Peter Murtagh and Fiona Ferguson A man who raped a woman described as his "best friend" and to whom he was "like a brother" has been jailed for three and a half years. Ms Justice Murphy imposed a seven-year sentence and suspended the final three and a half years, on conditions including probation supervision and the undertaking of offence-focused work.

Places mentioned

Court Venue
  • Central Criminal Court

Topics

Stage Sentence

Read the original CNI report

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