Courts / Dublin / Report
20-year sentence for 'ultra violent' rape of escorts is upheld
Summary
The Court of Appeal has dismissed the appeals against conviction and sentence lodged by Gheorghe Goidan, a 49-year-old Romanian national. Goidan was convicted at the Central Criminal Court of rape and sexual assault committed against two sex workers in separate hotels in Portlaoise and Galway on September 7, 2017. He had pleaded not guilty to these charges but admitted to robbing the victims. The trial judge, Ms Justice Tara Burns, sentenced him to two consecutive terms of 10 years, describing the offences as ultra-violent and premeditated. In his appeal, Goidan's counsel argued that the trial judge erred regarding the admissibility of videolink evidence and the refusal to sever the indictment, and that the sentence was disproportionate. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, rejected these grounds, stating the trial judge exercised her discretion correctly. The court further dismissed the appeal against sentence, noting that the discount applied to the consecutive terms was entirely appropriate. The judges affirmed that the sentence reflected the severe violence and humiliation experienced by the victims, who were targeted due to their vulnerability. The 20-year effective custody term is therefore upheld.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 20-year sentence for 'ultra violent' rape of escorts is upheld. Charges or matters: rape and sexual assault at a hotel in Portlaoise on September 7, 2017. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Convicted
When:
- September 7, 2017 Incident
- May 14, 2019 Incident
- July 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2022-07-14 Publication
Why: The judge said Goidan, a Romanian national who had one previous conviction from Britain in relation to possession of a false passport, had preyed upon the vulnerability of the two women and had clearly targeted them because he thought they would not be believed. CNI source report
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: rape and sexual assault at a hotel in Portlaoise on September 7, 2017 (Proven)
Plea: Not guilty
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; Goidan, who had pleaded guilty pleas to counts of robbing the two women, later launched appeals against both his conviction and sentence. He said the sentence imposed was "entirely correct" when the "level of violence and humiliation both women experienced" was considered.
Places mentioned
- Midlands Prison
- Central Criminal Court
- Court of Appeal
Topics
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