Ireland Cork landlord Michael Paul O'Leary jailed for seven years for raping tenant
Michael Paul O'Leary, a 62-year-old landlord, raped his tenant Lorita O'Donoghue, a woman in her 30s, after plying her with brandy at a property in Fermoy, Co Cork, on 28 May 2022. He was convicted by a jury at the Central Criminal Court in Cork in February 2025. On 11 April 2025, Ms Justice Siobhán Lankford sentenced him to seven years' imprisonment, reducing a headline sentence of eight years for previous good behaviour with no suspension.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced11 Apr
2 reports
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- O'Leary raped the victim after plying her with brandy until she passed out, then kept her pinned down until he was finished.
- Where
- The rape took place at a property in Fermoy, Co Cork that the victim and her fiancé were renting from O'Leary.
- When
- The incident occurred on 28 May 2022.
- Investigation
- Det Garda Rachel McGrath of the North Cork Protective Service Unit investigated the case.
- In court
- O'Leary was convicted by a jury at the Central Criminal Court in Cork in February 2025.
- Sentence
- Ms Justice Siobhán Lankford sentenced O'Leary to seven years' imprisonment on 11 April 2025, reducing a headline sentence of eight years for previous good behaviour with no suspension.
- Other details
- The victim's intoxication, evident to O'Leary, was cited as an aggravating factor.
- The victim, Lorita O'Donoghue, waived her anonymity and was supported by Mary Crilly of the Cork Sexual Violence Centre.
- O'Leary had built a successful construction business after emigrating to the US.
14 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe victim woke to find O'Leary on top of her having sexual intercourse with her. (irishtimes.com)
- whatO'Leary kept the victim pinned down and continued until he was finished. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMichael Paul O'Leary was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for rape. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe rape took place at a property in Fermoy that the victim and her fiancé were renting from O'Leary. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe incident occurred on 28 May 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationDet Garda Rachel McGrath of the North Cork Protective Service Unit investigated the case. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial was held at a sitting of the Central Criminal Court in Cork. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtO'Leary was convicted by a jury in February 2025. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe sentencing judge was Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceO'Leary was jailed for seven years for rape. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe judge fixed a headline sentence of eight years and reduced it to seven for previous good behaviour, with no suspension. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe victim's intoxication, evident to O'Leary, was another aggravating factor. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe victim was supported by Mary Crilly of the Cork Sexual Violence Centre. (irishtimes.com)
- otherO'Leary had built a successful construction business after emigrating to the US. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 11 Apr2025Cork landlord who raped tenant after getting her drunk learns his fate
Reports the sentencing of Michael Paul O'Leary to seven years for rape, including the victim's detailed impact statement, the judge's reasoning, and the victim's public appeal to other survivors.
victim, Lorita O'Donoghue, 30s, female, irish (judged from name)Lorita O'Donoghueconvicted, Michael Paul O'Leary, 62, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Paul O'Leary - 11 Apr2025Landlord jailed for seven years for rape of tenant whom he plied with brandy
Sentencing report: O'Leary convicted by jury at the Central Criminal Court earlier in 2025 and sentenced to seven years (headline eight years reduced for previous good behaviour, no suspension). Victim impact statement and post-sentence comments included.
victim, 30s, female, irish (judged from name)convicted, 62, male, irish (judged from name)