Courts / Ireland / Report

Man who was a teenager when he raped and abused young cousin gets three years

Summary

A 34-year-old man was jailed for three years after being convicted of sexually assaulting and raping his young cousin between 2005 and 2008. The victim, who was aged between five and eight at the time, described repeated instances of abuse, including a final incident of oral rape. The court heard that the victim had kept the abuse secret for years before making a formal complaint in 2021. Ms Justice Karen O'Connor noted the aggravating factors, including the victim's young age and the power imbalance. She acknowledged the accused's youth at the time of the offences but imposed a three-year sentence. The victim expressed that the abuse had a lasting impact on her life and that she had to remind herself that the family fallout was due to the abuse, not her speaking out. The accused's defence highlighted his stable relationship and positive testimonials from family and friends, but the court found no remorse. The trial concluded with the judge emphasizing the importance of the victim's courage in coming forward.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Man who was a teenager when he raped and abused young cousin gets three years. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted

When:

• 2005 and 2008 Incident
• 2026-07-03 Publication

Why: She said she has to remind herself that the fallout within her family is because of the abuse she endured at the hands of the accused, not because she spoke up. CNI source report

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Stage Sentence

Read the original CNI report