Courts / Dublin / Report
Sex offending taxi driver Shorten convicted of raping seven-year-old girl
Summary
Raymond Shorten, a 50‑year‑old Dublin taxi driver, was convicted in May of two counts of rape and one of sexual assault against a seven‑year‑old girl. The offences occurred after the child's mother's funeral, in a bathroom at her family home where Shorten covered her mouth, and later on a bed and in a car. The girl, now 20, had left a handwritten note in 2020 alleging abuse and was interviewed by specialist gardai in early 2021. Shorten denied all allegations during voluntary interviews in 2020 and 2021, calling them "110% lies" and a "wind‑up." He was found guilty by a jury at the Central Criminal Court and is due to be sentenced later this month. The case is part of a broader pattern of sexual offences by Shorten, who has eight prior convictions, including five for road traffic offences. Raymond Shorten pleaded not guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Sex offending taxi driver Shorten convicted of raping seven-year-old girl. Charges or matters: two counts of rape and one of anal rape by a jury at the Central Criminal Court last month and is due to be sentenced in relation to these charges later this month; the rape and anal rape of a 19-year-old woman on June 26, 2022 and to the rape of another woman, then aged 20, a couple of months later on August 9. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted
When:
- June 2020 Incident
- August 2022 Adjournment
- July 19 Adjournment
- July 22 Adjournment
- June 26, 2022 Adjournment
- August 9 Other
- 2024-07-08 Publication
Why: "One part of me knew what he done to me was not right and couldn't be right, but another part thought it must be right because why else would an adult man do that to a seven-year-old," she said. CNI source report
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: two counts of rape and one of anal rape by a jury at the Central Criminal Court last month and is due to be sentenced in relation to these charges later this month; the rape and anal rape of a 19-year-old woman on June 26, 2022 and to the rape of another woman, then aged 20, a couple of months later on August 9 (Proven)
Plea: Not guilty
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; Shorten was convicted of two counts of rape and one of anal rape by a jury at the Central Criminal Court last month and is due to be sentenced in relation to these charges later this month. Three days later on July 22, Shorten is due to be sentenced in relation to the three taxi rape offences.; Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo adjourned this case for finalisaton on July 19.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- DPP's view
- Dublin city
- Melrose Crescent
- Rathfarnham
- The Central Criminal Court
- Central Criminal Court
Topics
Road Traffic Stage Sentence Violent Crime
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