Saturday 31 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. 20257Rape · Co. Limerick

Court refuses convicted Limerick rapist's application for return of iPhone

A man in his 30s was convicted of raping a 19-year-old woman at a place in County Limerick in 2015. He used an iPhone to lure her to a so-called house party and later made death threats to her to get her to drop the charge against him. He pleaded guilty to one count of rape, admitted intimidation of a witness and attempting to pervert the court of justice, and was jailed for six years in 2019. In July 2023, Judge Carol Anne Coolican at Newcastle West Court, sitting in camera, refused his police property application for the return of the iPhone.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced21 Jul
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
A convicted man applied to a judge for the return of an iPhone.
Where
The rape took place at a place in County Limerick.
When
The rape of a 19-year-old woman took place in 2015.
Weapon
The prosecution said the iPhone was essentially the weapon used to draw the victim to the house.
Investigation
A garda who investigated the rape gave evidence that the iPhone was used to lure the victim to a party.
Charges
  • The man pleaded guilty to one count of rape.
  • The man also admitted intimidation of a witness and attempting to pervert the court of justice.
In court
  • The police property application was heard in camera at Newcastle West Court before Judge Carol Anne Coolican.
  • Inspector Liam Wallace, prosecuting, objected to the phone being returned.
  • The judge refused the police property application after hearing the witnesses and submissions.
Sentence
The man was jailed for six years in 2019 and is due to be released later this year.
Other details
The man made death threats to the victim to get her to drop the charge against him.
11 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA man convicted of rape applied to a judge for the return of an iPhone. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whereThe rape took place at a place in County Limerick. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whenThe rape of a 19-year-old woman took place in 2015. (limerickleader.ie)
  • weaponThe prosecution said the iPhone was essentially the weapon used to draw the victim to the house. (limerickleader.ie)
  • investigationA garda who investigated the rape gave evidence that the iPhone was used to lure the victim to a party. (limerickleader.ie)
  • chargeThe man pleaded guilty to one count of rape. (limerickleader.ie)
  • chargeThe man also admitted intimidation of a witness and attempting to pervert the court of justice. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtThe police property application was heard in camera at Newcastle West Court before Judge Carol Anne Coolican. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtThe judge refused the police property application after hearing the witnesses and submissions. (limerickleader.ie)
  • sentenceThe man was jailed for six years in 2019 and is due to be released later this year. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherThe man made death threats to the victim to get her to drop the charge against him. (limerickleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 21 Jul2023
    Sentencedlimerickleader.ie, first report
    Convicted Limerick rapist applies for return of iPhone he used to ‘lure’ his victim

    Reports a court hearing in which the convicted man sought the return of his iPhone; the application was refused. Adds details of the rape conviction, the victim's age and the prosecution's account of how the phone was used.

    victim, 19 (in 2015), femaleconvicted, 30s, male