Courts / Cork / Report
'Cynical' child rapists fail to overturn jail sentences for gang rape of 'comatose' girl (14)
Summary
Two men, aged 29 and 28, were convicted of gang‑rape of a 14‑year‑old girl who was comatose with alcohol on 22 April 2017. They were sentenced to 11 years in prison each, with a headline sentence of 13 years. The men appealed, arguing the headline was too high and that insufficient discount had been applied for mitigating factors. The Court of Appeal in Cork dismissed the appeal, confirming the 13‑year headline and the 11‑year custodial term. The judge said the case involved a high level of degradation and that the victim was vulnerable. The men had denied the offences and had no guilty plea. The appeal was rejected, and the men must serve the full sentences. The complainant remains traumatised by the assault.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'Cynical' child rapists fail to overturn jail sentences for gang rape of 'comatose' girl (14). Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- April 22, 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
- November 2021 Hearing Or Sentence
- May 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2024-03-11 Publication
Why: The pair, who cannot be named in order to protect the anonymity of the complainant, were convicted following their trial at the Central Criminal Court in November 2021. CNI source report
Case subjects
Appellant
Outcome: Mr Justice Edwards said lawyers for the appellants had argued that not only was the headline sentence "incorrect" but that "insufficient discount had been applied to appropriately reflect the mitigation for both men". He was sentenced to eight years in prison for the sexual assault charge, to run concurrently with the rape charge.
Places mentioned
- Court of Appeal
- Central Criminal Court
Topics
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