Defence Forces member Kielan Mooney's rape appeal dismissed by Court of Appeal
Kielan Mooney, 30, of Bloomfield Park, Derry, a former Defence Forces member, was convicted of raping a fellow soldier at a Dublin hotel on 26 July 2021. The victim, a woman in her 20s and serving Defence Forces soldier, was forced to perform oral sex on Mooney before he pushed her onto the bed and raped her. He was convicted at the Central Criminal Court in December 2024 of anal rape, oral rape and rape, and jailed for 8½ years in January 2025. The Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal in July 2026, upholding the conviction and sentence.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Convicted29 Jul
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Mooney forced the woman to perform oral sex on him before pushing her onto the bed and raping her.
- Where
- The incident took place at a Dublin hotel.
- When
- The incident occurred on 26 July 2021, with a 999 call made at 1.38am.
- Investigation
- The woman's friend and two male friends forced Mooney out of the room and gardaí were called.
- Charges
- Mooney pleaded not guilty to six charges: two rape, two oral rape, one anal rape, and one sexual assault.
- In court
- Mooney was convicted at the Central Criminal Court in December 2024 of anal rape, oral rape and rape, with the jury failing to reach a verdict on three remaining charges.
- The Court of Appeal dismissed Mooney's appeal in July 2026, upholding the conviction and sentence.
- Sentence
- Mooney was jailed for 8½ years by Judge Tony Hunt in January 2025.
- Other details
- The victim is a woman in her 20s and a serving soldier of the Defence Forces.
- Mooney is a former Defence Forces member from Bloomfield Park, Derry.
13 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe victim is in her 20s and a serving soldier of the Defence Forces (irishtimes.com)
- whatMooney forced the woman to perform oral sex on him before pushing her onto the bed and raping her (irishtimes.com)
- whereMooney is from Bloomfield Park, Derry (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe incident took place at a Dublin hotel (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe incident occurred on 26 July 2021 (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe 999 call was made at 1.38am (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe woman's friend and two male friends forced Mooney out of the room and gardaí were called (irishtimes.com)
- chargeMooney was convicted of anal rape, oral rape and rape (irishtimes.com)
- chargeMooney pleaded not guilty to six charges: two rape, two oral rape, one anal rape, one sexual assault (irishtimes.com)
- courtMooney was convicted at the Central Criminal Court in December 2024 (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury failed to reach a verdict on three remaining charges (irishtimes.com)
- courtMooney argued the 999 call recording should not have been admitted at trial (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceMooney was jailed for 8½ years by Judge Tony Hunt in January 2025 (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 29 Jul2026Defence Forces member has appeal for rape of fellow soldier dismissed
The Court of Appeal dismissed Mooney's appeal, upholding his conviction and 8½-year sentence. Judge Tara Burns found the 999 call had probative value as the reason for the victim's distress was in issue. The jury had failed to reach a verdict on three of the six charges.
victim, 20s, femaleconvicted, Kielan Mooney, 30, male, named, irish (judged from name)Kielan Mooney