Michael John Cummins jailed for rape of sleeping friend

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

Michael John Cummins was jailed for five years for the anal rape of a teenage friend in Co Kildare on 25 November 2018. The proceedings were reported on 12 December 2022.

Cummins pleaded guilty to anal rape. The woman had gone to bed alone after a house party and woke to find him raping her.

Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed a sentence of six years and three months, suspending the final 15 months. The conditions included that Cummins keep the peace, engage with the Probation Service for two years after release and submit to assessment for any suitable programme. He was also ordered not to approach or contact the woman directly or indirectly by any means.

In her victim impact statement, the woman described the fear she felt before the prospective trial and her relief that the guilty plea meant she would not have to tell her story in court. She said she felt anxious and afraid after the rape and had left her college course. The judge recognised the effect on her, praised her resilience and accepted that Cummins had expressed genuine remorse.