Woman addresses Conor Byrne at sentencing hearing after rape plea

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

Conor Byrne pleaded guilty to rape at an earlier date. The proceedings were reported on 30 May 2022.

At the Central Criminal Court sentencing hearing, Ms Justice Tara Burns heard from the woman, who was 17 when she was attacked in the early hours of 27 December 2016. Four other men had been convicted in April 2022 of offences against her.

Marcus De Silva Umbelino was convicted of rape and sexual assault and found not guilty of false imprisonment. Eduardo Dias Ferreiera Filho was convicted of oral rape, sexual assault and false imprisonment. Gabriel Gomes Da Rocha was convicted of rape at two locations, sexual assault and false imprisonment. Ethan Nikolaou was convicted of two counts of sexual assault.

In her victim impact statement, the woman told Byrne she believed he had recognised his guilt and would try to forgive him. She urged him to learn from his wrongdoing. She said the other four had given her no reason to address them by name and had shown no remorse.

She described lasting effects of the crimes, including post-traumatic stress disorder and having to leave two college courses. She said Nikolaou's offer of €30,000 compensation shortly before the hearing had angered her.

Lawyers for Ferreiera Filho, Da Rocha and Nikolaou told the court their clients accepted the jury verdict, were remorseful and offered apologies to the woman. All five men were remanded in custody, with sentencing due on a Thursday.