Courts / Carlow / Report
Man who raped young cousin when he was a child is jailed
Summary
A 22-year-old man from Carlow has been sentenced to two years in prison for two counts of oral rape and one count of sexually assaulting his younger cousin between January 2017 and June 2018. The defendant, who was aged between 13 and 14 at the time of the offences, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court. The victim, who was aged between 10 and 11, disclosed the abuse to her mother in 2018, but no further action was taken at the time. The abuse came to light again in 2022 when Tusla notified gardaí of the disclosure. In a victim impact statement, the young woman described the lasting emotional trauma she has experienced, including nightmares and feelings of guilt and shame. The court heard that the defendant told the victim not to disclose the abuse, or she would get into trouble. Mr Justice Patrick McGrath noted the defendant's actions were a gross breach of trust and had long-term effects on the victim. He reduced the headline sentence of eight years to two years and ten months, suspending the final ten months to encourage engagement with the Probation Service's assessment and treatment programme. The defendant's guilty plea and lack of previous convictions were taken into account. Defence counsel highlighted the defendant's difficult upbringing, isolation, and history of mental health issues.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Man who raped young cousin when he was a child is jailed. Charges or matters: two counts of oral rape and one count of sexually assaulting the girl on dates between January 2017 and June 2018. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- January 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
- June 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2025-10-20 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: two counts of oral rape and one count of sexually assaulting the girl on dates between January 2017 and June 2018 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: A man who raped and abused his younger cousin when they were both children has been jailed for two years. In a victim impact statement which she read out herself, the young woman said she still has nightmares and days where she feels physically sick "from the guilt and shame" of what the man did to her. "All of that comes back to you," she said. "You ruined my life before it even started." "I genuinely don't believe you understand the effects your actions have had on my life," she said. "…It won't end for me when I walk out of this court room and it won't end when you are sentenced," she said, adding she hopes she gets the justice she deserves.
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
Topics
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