Nathan Grant McNulty given nine years with final year suspended for rape and coercive control

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

The Central Criminal Court imposed a nine-year prison sentence on Nathan Grant McNulty for rape and coercive control of Sarah Ryan, with the final year suspended on conditions including no contact with her for life.

Mr Justice Tony Hunt also ordered two years of probation supervision after release. The suspended portion requires McNulty not to commit further sexual or coercive control offences.

McNulty, 27, of Ballyogan Avenue, Carrickmines, Co Dublin, pleaded guilty to rape and coercive control. The prosecution accepted his pleas on a full facts basis. He had no previous convictions.

The court heard that the rape occurred in March 2019 and that the coercive control charge covered 2019 to 2022. The evidence described physical and verbal abuse, threats, repeated calls about Ryan’s activities, and interference with her phone and messages.

Ryan waived anonymity so that McNulty could be identified. In her victim impact statement, she described depression, anxiety and fear that he would kill her. Speaking after sentencing, she said she wanted to give purpose to what she had endured and urged others living in fear to seek help.

Defence counsel Michael Lynn SC cited McNulty’s troubled childhood, additional needs and mental health difficulties that had required inpatient care. The court heard that he had complied with his bail conditions. An apology letter, testimonials and a probation report were submitted.

Hunt treated the intimate domestic relationship as an aggravating factor. He assessed a starting sentence of 13 years, reducing it to nine to reflect mitigation and McNulty’s personal circumstances before suspending the final year.