Courts / Carlow / Report
'Very damaged' man who groomed and raped partner's niece (13) gets seven years
Summary
A 30-year-old man from Carlow has been jailed for seven years after admitting to grooming, raping, and sexually abusing his partner's 13-year-old niece. The abuse occurred between December 2022 and January 2023 in the home they shared. The victim, who was 13 to 14 years old at the time, described the abuse as starting with inappropriate touching and progressing to oral rape. The court heard that the defendant sent the victim text messages, including one where he wrote, "I like what we have, it's weird I shouldn't really." The abuse ended when the girl confided in her mother. The victim's impact statement highlighted the lasting trauma, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD. The defendant, who has a history of addiction and violence, expressed remorse and acknowledged his actions. The judge noted the severity of the offenses and the victim's courage in coming forward, sentencing him to seven years for the oral rape and eight years and three months for the sexual assault, both to run concurrently.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'Very damaged' man who groomed and raped partner's niece (13) gets seven years. Charges or matters: one count of sexual assault and one count of orally raping the child, who was aged between 13 and 14, in the home they were both living in on dates between December 2022 and January 2023. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- December 2022 Incident
- January 2023 Incident
- 2026-06-26 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: one count of sexual assault and one count of orally raping the child, who was aged between 13 and 14, in the home they were both living in on dates between December 2022 and January 2023 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: By Isabel Hayes and Declan Brennan A "very damaged" man who admitted to grooming, raping and sexually abusing his partner's teenage niece while she lived with them has been jailed for seven years. The defendant has been serving a prison sentence since November, when he was jailed for assault and threatening to kill a female relative.
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
Topics
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