Courts / Carlow / Report

Rapist asked why teen victim hadn't screamed

Date
2026-07-13

Stage
Finding

Primary locality
Carlow

County
Carlow

Summary

A man who raped his partner's 16-year-old sister asked why the victim hadn't screamed during the attack, a court has heard. The 24-year-old defendant, who cannot be named to protect the victim's identity, was convicted of the rape and sexual assault of the teenager at his home in August 2023. The victim, who was not present in court, prepared a victim impact statement detailing the emotional distress and self-harm she experienced following the attack. The court heard that the victim tried to shout out during the assault but found she had no voice. She later told her sister, who confronted the accused, and he denied the allegations, asking why the victim had not screamed. The victim later told her mother part of what had happened, leading to a garda investigation. The defendant, who has no previous convictions, has been in custody since his conviction in April. His defence counsel noted that the accused has a diagnosis of autism and ADHD and has not been in trouble with the law previously or since.