Courts / Galway / Report
6.5-year jail term for violent offender who repeatedly raped teen
Summary
Costel Pirvu, 39, was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment, with the final three and a half years suspended, for raping a 19‑year‑old woman with a mild intellectual disability. The offence began on the night of 4 February 2018 when Pirvu, who had previously been convicted of robbery and attempted rape, accosted the victim on a street in the west of Ireland, forced her into a black jeep, and raped her. He then took her to his apartment, where she was raped twice more under threat. Pirvu was arrested the same evening, and DNA evidence linked him to the victim. He maintains his innocence, claiming the sex was consensual, but the court found no evidence of prior acquaintance or knowledge of the victim's vulnerability. The sentence was back‑dated to his August 2018 arrest. The victim, who suffered physical injuries and ongoing PTSD, described feeling unsafe and depressed after the attacks.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 6.5-year jail term for violent offender who repeatedly raped teen. Charges or matters: three counts of rape and one of false imprisonment after a nine-day trial at the Central Criminal Court last year. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Found guilty
When:
- February 4, 2018 Incident
- August 2018 Incident
- December 2017 Incident
- 2022-07-25 Publication
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: three counts of rape and one of false imprisonment after a nine-day trial at the Central Criminal Court last year (Proven)
Finding: Found guilty
Outcome: Found guilty; Handing down sentence today, Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy noted Pirvu raped the woman on the street with force and then took her to his home and raped her twice more in circumstances where she felt under threat. She handed down a 10-year sentence and suspended the final three and a half years.
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
- brought her to the garda station
Topics
Stage Sentence Theft Violent Crime
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