Shane Noonan’s eight-year rape sentence upheld on appeal

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

The Court of Appeal upheld Shane Noonan’s eight-year sentence for rape, with the final year suspended, on 7 April 2025.

Noonan pleaded guilty to raping Ciara Mangan shortly before his trial was due to start. The rape took place at a house party in Castlebar, Co Mayo, on 11 May 2013, when both were 18 and worked at a fast-food restaurant.

At the Central Criminal Court, Ms Justice Eileen Creedon sentenced Noonan to eight years in prison, suspending the final year. The sentencing proceedings were reported on 17 July 2023.

Ms Mangan told the court that she felt suddenly unwell after being handed an open can of cider at the party. She said Noonan guided her upstairs and raped her in a bathroom as she drifted in and out of consciousness. The court heard that Noonan had expressed remorse but said he could not recall the rape and had given no explanation for it.

On appeal, Noonan’s lawyers argued that more consideration should have been given to mitigating factors and that more of the sentence could have been suspended. Prosecuting counsel Anne Marie Lawlor said the guilty plea came very late and the sentence was within the court’s discretion. The Appeal Court found no error in principle in the original sentence.

Following the appeal outcome, Ms Mangan said it was only then she could begin to heal. In a report published on 13 July 2026, she also described the strain of delays on victims and their families amid a legal aid dispute.