Courts / Dublin / Report

Man (50) raped girl (16) who came to him looking for advice

Summary

In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Robert Fennell, then 50, was sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment for raping a 16‑year‑old girl who had approached him for advice. The victim had been led to Fennell by a person she believed to be a 17‑year‑old boy, who provided Fennell's contact details. Fennell, who lives in Woodview Cottages, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14, gave the girl alcohol and raped her at his home on 11 June 2018. He pleaded guilty, a plea entered late in the process. The judge noted the victim's vulnerability and the breach of trust. The sentence was reduced from 12 to 11 years, with the final year suspended for two years on strict conditions, including offence‑focused work, addiction treatment, drug monitoring and no unsupervised access to children. Fennell was also ordered to undergo assessment for offence‑focused work, addiction treatment and drug monitoring.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Man (50) raped girl (16) who came to him looking for advice. Charges or matters: rape of the child at his home, on June 11, 2018. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• June 11, 2018 Other
• 2024-04-15 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Sentence

Related court reports

• Serial offender with 'appalling' 137 previous convictions gets fully suspended sentece
• Court grants Irish Times access to ex-TD's character reference for convicted sex offender
• 'A man's liberty is at stake here': Judge dismisses claim boxing instructor breached terms of suspended sentence
• 'Exceptional' Mary Cash avoids jail over bid to obtain fake passport for on-the-run ex
• Judge refuses to name former TD who provided character reference for sex offender
• Octogenarian huntsman shot man meditating in back garden

Read the original CNI report