Conor Byrne admitted rape as four others were convicted

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Conor Byrne pleaded guilty to raping a 17-year-old girl at a location near Kilbeggan, Co Westmeath. The proceedings were reported on 30 May 2022.

The offence took place in the early hours of 27 December 2016, after the teenager got into a car in Tullamore, Co Offaly. Byrne entered his plea the day before she was due to give evidence at a trial in February; a new jury was sworn for a trial a week later.

The four other defendants denied the charges. Their lawyers told the jury that their position was that some alleged sexual acts had not taken place and that their clients believed any acts that did occur were consensual.

At the Central Criminal Court, sitting at Croke Park, the jury convicted two of the four men of rape and all four of sexual assault. Two were convicted of false imprisonment, and one of those two was also convicted of oral rape. The jury returned not guilty verdicts on a number of charges. The four-week trial ended on 7 April 2022.

On 30 May 2022, the woman read a victim impact statement to Justice Tara Burns. The men’s lawyers said they accepted the jury verdicts. Justice Burns adjourned the case for finalisation and remanded all five men in custody.