Courts / Ireland / Report
'What happens in the dark must always come to light': jail for man who raped best friend while grandchild slept nearby
Summary
A 44-year-old man from Offaly was jailed for six years after being found guilty of raping his best friend while she slept beside her grandchild in a Moses basket. The victim testified that she awoke to find the accused on top of her, having sex with her. She managed to push him off and left the room, only for the accused to return and attempt to re-enter the house. The victim later reported the incident to the gardaí and was treated at a Sexual Assault Treatment Unit, where she was found to have bruising and a small cut. The accused, who has eight previous convictions, claimed the sex was consensual. The victim described the emotional toll of the assault, including feeling like a "zombie" and losing quality time with her dying brother. She expressed that the rape had "shattered my sense of security in my home" and that she felt "dirty" despite scrubbing herself.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'What happens in the dark must always come to light': jail for man who raped best friend while grandchild slept nearby. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted
When:
- May 25, 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2026-06-15 Publication
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; A man who raped his best friend while she slept beside her grandchild in a Moses basket has been jailed for six years, with the victim telling the sentencing court that "what happens in the dark must always come to light". He set a headline sentence of eight year imprisonment and, taking all the circumstances of the case into account, imposed a sentence of seven years with the final year suspended for three years to encourage rehabilitation.
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
Topics
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