Thursday 29 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 8793Rape · Co. Dublin · 26 Jul 2021

Court of Appeal upholds rape conviction of former Defence Force member

On 26 July 2021, a woman in her 20s, a serving soldier in the Irish Defence Forces, was allegedly raped at a hotel in Dublin by Kielan Mooney, a 30-year-old man of Bloomfield Park, Derry, who was a Defence Force member at the time. In December 2024, after a trial at the Central Criminal Court, Mooney was convicted of anal rape, oral rape and rape, and the jury failed to reach a verdict on three other charges. In January 2025, Mr Justice Tony Hunt jailed him for eight and a half years. On 1 July 2026, the Court of Appeal dismissed Mooney's appeal against his conviction, with Ms Justice Tara Burns presiding.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Convicted1 Jul
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
A former Defence Force member was convicted of the repeated rape of a fellow soldier.
Where
The alleged rape took place at a hotel in Dublin.
When
The offence took place on 26 July 2021.
Other details
  • The suspect is Kielan Mooney, a 30-year-old man of Bloomfield Park, Derry, and the source gives no nationality for him.
  • The victim is a woman in her 20s and a serving soldier in the Irish Defence Forces.
Charges
Mooney pleaded not guilty to six charges.
In court
  • Mooney was convicted after a trial at the Central Criminal Court in December 2024 of anal rape, oral rape and rape.
  • The jury failed to reach a verdict on three of the six charges.
  • The Court of Appeal dismissed Mooney's appeal, with Ms Justice Tara Burns presiding, and upheld the conviction.
Sentence
Mr Justice Tony Hunt jailed Mooney for eight and a half years in January 2025.
Investigation
Mooney appealed his conviction on the ground that a recording of a 999 call made by the complainant should not have been admitted at trial.
10 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe Court of Appeal upheld a former Defence Force member's conviction for the repeated rape of a fellow soldier. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereThe rape occurred at a hotel in Dublin. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe offence took place on 26 July 2021. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeMooney had pleaded not guilty to six charges. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtMooney was convicted following a trial at the Central Criminal Court in December 2024. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe jury failed to reach a verdict on three of the charges. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtPresiding judge Ms Justice Tara Burns dismissed the appeal. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceMooney was jailed for eight and a half years by Mr Justice Tony Hunt in January 2025. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherMooney appealed his conviction, arguing that a recording of a 999 call made by the complainant should not have been admitted at trial. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe victim is in her 20s and is a serving soldier of the Irish Defence Forces. (thejournal.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 1 Jul2026
    Convictedthejournal.ie, first report
    Conviction of former Defence Force member for raping fellow soldier is upheld after appeal

    Reports the Court of Appeal dismissing Mooney's appeal against his conviction, which concerned the admissibility of the complainant's 999 call recording at trial.

    convicted, Kielan Mooney, 30, male, named, irish (judged from name)Kielan Mooneyvictim, 20s, female