Courts / Dublin / Report

Rickshaw operator who raped teenage boy 25 years ago is jailed

Summary

Barry Wheeler, a 49-year-old rickshaw operator formerly of Cabra Drive, Dublin 7, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for the anal and oral rape of a teenage boy. Wheeler pleaded guilty to these charges, which occurred between August and October 2001 when the victim was aged 14 to 15 and working for Wheeler's business. Mr Justice Tony Hunt noted that Wheeler abused a position of trust and authority, causing profound and lasting effects on the complainant's adult life. Although the court set a headline sentence of 12 years, it reduced this to nine years in mitigation for Wheeler's guilty pleas and cooperation with the investigation. The judge suspended the final year of the sentence on strict conditions, specifically requiring that Wheeler have no contact with the injured party. During sentencing, defense counsel Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha SC highlighted Wheeler's background and stated that if any part of the sentence was suspended, Wheeler intended to return to the United Kingdom, where he has recently resided. The court commended the injured party's fortitude in reporting the abuse, noting that the conclusion of the case would allow the victim to move forward. Wheeler had previously denied involvement to gardai, claiming the allegations were born of malice, but his guilty plea at trial resolved the matter.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Rickshaw operator who raped teenage boy 25 years ago is jailed. Charges or matters: anal and oral rape of the teenage boy on dates between August and October 2001. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• October 2001 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2026-07-31 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

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Stage Sentence

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Read the original CNI report