Ireland Case No. 0095Rape, oral rape · 26 Jan 2023
Defence Forces man sentenced to eight years for rape in Laois
A 37-year-old member of the Defence Forces took a 17-year-old girl to his family home in Laois on 26 January 2023, where he raped her twice and orally raped her. The teenager recorded the incidents on her phone and made a complaint immediately, and the man was arrested at the scene. He was charged with two counts of rape, one count of oral rape, sexual assault and false imprisonment, and the case was directed for trial to the Central Criminal Court. At trial in 2026, the jury convicted him on the rape and oral rape charges but acquitted him of sexual assault and false imprisonment. Judge Eileen Creedon sentenced him to eight years in prison in October 2026.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court6 Jun
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced1 Oct
2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A 37-year-old man, a member of the Defence Forces, took a 17-year-old girl to his family home in Laois on 26 January 2023, where he raped her twice and orally raped her.
- Where
- The offences took place at the man's family home in Laois in the midlands.
- When
- The offences took place on 26 January 2023.
- Investigation
- The man was arrested at the scene while still with the teenager, who made a complaint immediately and handed over her phone where the recordings were found.
- Charges
- The man was charged with two counts of rape, one count of oral rape, one count of sexual assault and one count of false imprisonment, though an earlier court filing listed the charges as two counts of rape, one count of sexual assault and one count of false imprisonment.
- In court
- The case was directed for trial on indictment to the Central Criminal Court after the man appeared before Portlaoise District Court in June 2025.
- At trial in the Central Criminal Court in 2026, the jury convicted the man on both rape charges and the oral rape charge, and acquitted him of sexual assault and false imprisonment.
- Sentence
- Judge Eileen Creedon set a headline sentence of 10 years, reduced to nine years, with the final year suspended, resulting in an effective eight-year prison sentence in October 2026.
- Other details
- The man maintained throughout the interview and trial that all interactions were consensual and that they were role-playing.
- The man has no previous convictions and is under suspension from the Defence Forces.
- The victim, now 21, read a victim impact statement into the record, and the judge noted the man had not acknowledged the crimes, offered an apology or shown remorse.
43 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe man is a member of the Defence Forces (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe man agreed to take the teenager home along with two older women but instead brought her to his family home (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe teenager recorded the rapes on her mobile phone (thejournal.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe teenager showed signs of distress and was in tears during the sexual interactions (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe teenager asked to go to the bathroom but the man shadowed her (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe teenager sent messages to her family and used Snapchat to help them find her location (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe man maintained throughout the interview and trial that all interactions were consensual and that they were role-playing (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe man has no previous convictions (thejournal.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe convicted man is a member of the Defence Forces. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe alleged offences took place at an address in Laois. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whereThe incident took place at the man's family home in the midlands (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe rapes took place at the man's family home. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe offences took place at the man's home in the midlands. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe alleged offences took place on 26 January 2023. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whenThe rape occurred on 26 January 2023 (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe offences took place on January 26, 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA Garda Detective gave evidence of charging the accused. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- investigationThe man was arrested at the scene while still with the teenager (thejournal.ie)
- investigationThe teenager made a complaint immediately and handed over her phone where the videos were found (thejournal.ie)
- investigationThe man was arrested at the scene. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThe accused is charged with two counts of rape, one count of sexual assault and one count of false imprisonment. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- chargeThe man denied two rape charges, an oral rape charge, sexual assault and false imprisonment. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe accused appeared before Portlaoise District Court. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtThe DPP directed trial on indictment to the Central Criminal Court. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtThe accused was remanded on bail to Portlaoise District Court on July 21 for service of a book of evidence. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtThe trial took place at the Central Criminal Court earlier in 2026 (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe jury convicted the man on both rape charges and the oral rape charge (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe man was acquitted on the charges of sexual assault and false imprisonment (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe victim, now 21, read a victim impact statement into the record (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe judge noted the man has not acknowledged the crimes, offered an apology or shown remorse (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe prosecuting counsel was Conor Devally (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe trial took place earlier this year in the Central Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceJudge Eileen Creedon set a headline sentence of 10 years (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceThe final year of the nine-year term was suspended on strict conditions (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceThe man was jailed for eight years. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of 10 years, reduced to nine years, and suspended the final year. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe accused replied 'no comment' to all charges. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherBail conditions had been agreed. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherThe defence said the accused was suspended from work. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherReporting restrictions are in place in the case. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherThe jury convicted the man of both rape charges and the oral rape charge. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe man was acquitted of sexual assault and false imprisonment. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe man is under suspension from the Defence Forces. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 20 Oct2026Defence Forces member jailed for eight years for rape of 17-year-old girl
Sentencing report: the man was convicted on two rape charges and one oral rape charge, acquitted on sexual assault and false imprisonment, and received an effective eight-year sentence (10-year headline reduced to nine, with one year suspended).
convicted, 30s, malevictim, 17, female - 1 Oct2026Member of the Defence Forces jailed for eight years for rape of 17-year-old girl
Reports the full sentencing details: conviction on rape and oral rape charges, acquittal on sexual assault and false imprisonment, headline sentence of 10 years reduced to 9 with one year suspended, victim impact statement, and defence submissions.
convicted, 30s, malevictim, 17, female - 6 Jun2025Man accused of false imprisonment and rape of woman in Laois
First court appearance reported. The case has been directed for trial on indictment to the Central Criminal Court. The accused was remanded on bail to Portlaoise District Court on July 21 for service of a book of evidence. Reporting restrictions are in place and legal aid was discussed.
accused, 37, male