Courts / Galway / Report

Violent rapist given 'extraordinary' lenient sentence over lack of English, appeal told

Summary

Costel Pirvu, 39, was convicted of three rapes and one false imprisonment after a nine‑day trial at the Central Criminal Court. He was sentenced to ten years, with the final three‑and‑a‑half years suspended and back‑dated to his arrest in August 2018. The Court of Appeal heard that the judge had applied a 50 % mitigation factor because Pirvu, a foreign national who does not speak English, would find prison life more difficult. The appeal argued this discount was extraordinary. Pirvu's defence said the judge acted within discretion and that Pirvu had medical concerns and limited access to English‑speaking support while in custody. The appeal was adjourned for judgment on 19 January 2023. The case involved a 19‑year‑old woman who was raped on a side‑street, taken to Pirvu's apartment, and raped twice more before being released the next morning. The victim suffered physical injuries and ongoing PTSD, depression and suicidal thoughts. Costel Pirvu pleaded not guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Violent rapist given 'extraordinary' lenient sentence over lack of English, appeal told. 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: appeal. Findings: Found guilty

When:

• February 4, 2018 Incident
• August 2018 Incident
• Thursday, January 19 Adjournment
• 2023-01-16 Publication

Why: A violent offender who grabbed and raped a woman with a mild intellectual disability on a side-street and then falsely imprisoned her in his home, raping her twice more, was given an extraordinarily lenient sentence because he can't speak English, the State has argued at the Court of Appeal today. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Appeal Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report