Keith Hearne appeals 12-year rape sentence

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

Keith Hearne was jailed for 12 years for rape at the Central Criminal Court in June 2017; his appeal was heard at the Court of Appeal on 12 April 2019. He had pleaded guilty to two counts of rape, oral rape and falsely imprisoning a woman at a Blanchardstown hotel.

Hearne’s counsel argued that his psychiatric history, lack of previous convictions and mitigation had not been properly considered. The Director of Public Prosecutions argued that the sentence was proper and proportionate. The appeal judges reserved their judgment until 13 May 2019.