Lodger jailed for eight years, with final year suspended, for raping girl

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

The Central Criminal Court sentenced a 49-year-old man to eight years in prison, with the final year suspended, for raping a girl while he was a lodger in her home. A jury convicted him after trial; he had denied the charge. He cannot be named to protect the victim’s identity.

The judge identified the large age gap, the breach of trust and the use of alcohol when the victim was very young as aggravating facts. The court heard she was aged between 11 and 14 during the period when the rape occurred, between 2001 and 2005. The suspended year is conditional on keeping the peace, being of good behaviour and engaging with the Probation Service for two years after release.