Ireland Case No. 5418Rape; sexual assault · Co. Dublin
Dublin taxi driver sentenced to 13 years for rape of child
Raymond Shorten, a 50-year-old Dublin taxi driver, was sentenced to 13 years in prison on 22 July 2024 for raping a girl twice and sexually assaulting her in 2012 when she was seven or eight. The first rape took place in a bathroom at the girl's family home days after her mother's funeral, the second in a bedroom of a family member, and the sexual assault in Shorten's car. The abuse came to light in 2020 after the girl left a handwritten note on her grandmother's pillow, and she was interviewed by specialist gardaí in early 2021. Shorten was convicted by a jury at the Central Criminal Court in May 2024 and denied the allegations throughout the trial. The sentence was backdated to 22 August 2022, when he went into custody.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Convicted8 Jul
5 reports - Sentenced22 Jul
4 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Shorten was convicted of two counts of rape and one of sexual assault of a girl who was seven or eight at the time.
- Where
- The first rape occurred in a bathroom at the girl's family home, the second in a bedroom of a family member, and the sexual assault in Shorten's car, all in Dublin.
- When
- The offences took place in 2012, with the first rape occurring in the days after the girl's mother's funeral.
- Investigation
- The abuse came to light in 2020 after the girl left a handwritten note on her grandmother's pillow, and she was interviewed by specialist gardaí in early 2021.
- Charges
- Shorten was charged with two counts of rape and one of sexual assault and denied the allegations when interviewed by gardaí.
- In court
- A jury at the Central Criminal Court convicted Shorten in May 2024; he gave evidence in his own defence and called the allegations a total fabrication.
- Sentence
- Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo imposed an effective 13-year sentence on 22 July 2024, reduced from a 14-year headline sentence, backdated to 22 August 2022.
- Other details
- Shorten was 37 at the time of the offending and was known to the girl's family.
- The victim, now 20, waived her right to anonymity to allow Shorten to be named.
- Shorten has eight previous convictions, including five for road traffic offences.
79 statements extracted from the articles
- whatShorten was convicted of two counts of rape and one of sexual assault of the girl. (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe second rape happened when the girl was seven or eight. (thejournal.ie)
- whatShorten later sexually assaulted the girl in a car by touching her leg. (thejournal.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- whatShorten has been found guilty of two further rapes of a victim who was seven at the time. (gript.ie)
- whatShorten was also convicted of raping a child on two occasions and sexually assaulting her. (gript.ie)
- whatThe victim said she experienced outbursts of emotion and anger after the abuse. (gript.ie)
- whatShorten was convicted in May of two counts of rape and one of sexual assault of the girl. (kildarenow.com, irishmirror.ie, thejournal.ie)
- whatThe first rape happened in the days after the girl's mother's funeral, in a bathroom at her family home. (kildarenow.com)
- whatThe court heard that Shorten raped the girl for the first time in the days after her mother's funeral. (kildarenow.com)
- whatShorten later sexually assaulted the girl in a car. (kildarenow.com)
- whatA Dublin taxi driver was jailed for a total term of 13 years for raping a girl twice. (irishtimes.com)
- whatRaymond Shorten was sentenced to 13 years in jail for the rape of a seven-year-old girl 12 years ago. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe taxi driver is described as a Dublin taxi driver. (extra.ie)
- whereThe first rape occurred in the child’s home, days after her mother’s death. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe second rape happened in the bedroom of a family member. (irishtimes.com)
- whereA sexual assault occurred in Shorten's vehicle. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe case involves a taxi driver in Dublin. (extra.ie)
- whereThe first rape took place in a bathroom at the girl's family home. (thejournal.ie)
- whenShorten was 37 at the time of the offending. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe first rape happened in the days after the girl's mother's funeral. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe offences took place in 2012, when the girl was seven or eight. (kildarenow.com)
- whenShorten first raped the girl in the days after her mother's funeral. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe second rape occurred when the girl was seven or eight. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe offence is reported as occurring after the victim's mother's funeral. (extra.ie)
- whenThe offences took place more than 10 years ago. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe girl was seven or eight when the second rape occurred. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationThe offending came to light after the girl left a handwritten note on her grandmother's pillow in 2020. (thejournal.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe girl was interviewed by specialist gardaí in early 2021. (thejournal.ie, kildarenow.com, irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe abuse came to light in 2020 after the girl left a handwritten note on her grandmother's pillow. (gript.ie)
- investigationThe abuse came to light after the girl left a handwritten note on her grandmother's pillow in 2020. (kildarenow.com, irishmirror.ie, thejournal.ie)
- investigationA Garda investigation began in 2021, after the girl left a handwritten note about the abuse. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationAn investigating garda told the court that Shorten, then 37, was known to the girl's family. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeThe taxi driver was convicted of raping a girl aged 7. (extra.ie)
- chargeShorten denied the allegations when charged. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe offence is rape of a girl. (extra.ie)
- courtThe Central Criminal Court heard Shorten was known to the girl's family at the time. (thejournal.ie)
- courtA victim impact statement was read to the court by prosecuting counsel Gerardine Small SC. (thejournal.ie, kildarenow.com, irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe case was adjourned for finalisation on July 19. (thejournal.ie)
- courtShorten denied the allegations, telling gardaí that what the girl said was a lie, before being found guilty. (gript.ie)
- courtShorten gave evidence in his own defence and called the allegations a total fabrication. (kildarenow.com)
- courtA jury at the Central Criminal Court convicted Shorten of two counts of rape and one of anal rape last month. (kildarenow.com)
- courtShorten has been in custody since August 2022, and his counsel asked for any sentence to be backdated. (kildarenow.com)
- courtThe case was adjourned for finalisation on July 19, and sentencing on the taxi rape charges was due on July 22. (kildarenow.com)
- courtShorten gave evidence in his own defence and denied the allegations. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe sentence was imposed at the Central Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
- courtShorten was convicted in May of two counts of vaginal rape and one count of sexual assault of the child. (irishtimes.com)
- courtShorten was convicted in May of two counts of rape and one of sexual assault against the girl. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe judge said the aggravating factors included the seriousness of the offending, the age and vulnerability of the victim, and its impact on her. (irishmirror.ie, thejournal.ie)
- sentenceThe DPP's view is that the case falls into the more serious sentencing category, meriting a headline sentence of between 10 and 15 years. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceThe DDP's view is that the offence is of the more serious category and merits a sentence of 10 to 15 years. (gript.ie)
- sentenceShorten will be sentenced for these offences on 19 July. (gript.ie)
- sentenceThe DPP's view is that the case falls into the more serious sentencing category, with a headline sentence of 10 to 15 years. (kildarenow.com, irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe judge imposed an effective 13-year sentence on Shorten. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe judge set 14 years as the headline sentence for the rapes and four years for the sexual assault, reduced by one year. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe sentence was backdated to August 2022 because Shorten has been in custody since then. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceA Dublin taxi driver was jailed for 13 years for the rape and sexual abuse of a seven-year-old girl. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of 14 years on the rape counts. (irishmirror.ie, thejournal.ie)
- sentenceThe sentence was reduced by one year to 13 years to account for mitigation. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe sentence was backdated to 22 August 2022, when Shorten went into custody. (irishmirror.ie, thejournal.ie)
- sentenceThe taxi driver was jailed for 13 years. (extra.ie)
- sentenceThe judge reduced the sentence by one year to 13 years. (thejournal.ie)
- otherShorten denied the allegations when interviewed by gardaí in 2021. (thejournal.ie, kildarenow.com)
- otherShorten's defence counsel said his client does not accept responsibility for the offences. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe girl had lost her mother not long before the abuse took place. (gript.ie)
- otherShorten was known to the family of the victim. (gript.ie)
- otherShorten was known to the girl's family at the time. (kildarenow.com, irishmirror.ie)
- otherDefence counsel Lorcan Staines SC said Shorten does not accept responsibility for the offences. (kildarenow.com)
- otherShorten has eight previous convictions, including five for road traffic offences. (kildarenow.com)
- otherShorten denied any wrongdoing when interviewed by gardaí in 2021. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe aggravating features include the age difference and the girl's young age and vulnerability. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherShorten's defence counsel said he does not accept responsibility for the offences. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe headline describes the man as a serial rapist. (extra.ie)
- otherThe judge said Shorten was in a position of trust and committed very serious offences against a vulnerable child. (irishtimes.com)
- otherShorten does not accept responsibility for the offences of which he was convicted. (irishtimes.com)
- otherShorten denied any wrongdoing when interviewed by gardai and during the trial. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe offence took place after the girl's mother's funeral. (extra.ie)
- otherThe judge noted that Shorten is due to be sentenced on other offences. (thejournal.ie)
- otherShorten denied any wrongdoing when interviewed by gardaí and in his evidence during the trial. (thejournal.ie)
- otherIn a victim impact statement, the woman said she was terrified and did not understand what was happening. (thejournal.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 22 Jul2024Taxi driver Raymond Shorten sentenced to 13 years for rape of seven-year-old girl
Reports the 13-year sentence imposed by Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo, after a 14-year headline sentence was reduced by one year, and backdated to 22 August 2022. Adds the judge's remarks on aggravating factors, the victim impact statement, the handwritten note that led to the discovery, and that sentencing on other offences is still pending.
victim, 7, femaleconvicted, Raymond Shorten, 50, male, named, irish (judged from name)Raymond Shorten - 22 Jul2024Dublin taxi driver jailed for 13 years for rape of girl after her mother's funeral
The article body contains only page template code with no story text. Details come from the headline alone; no date, names, or age are given.
convictedvictim, female - 22 Jul2024Taxi driver Raymond Shorten jailed for 13 years for rape of seven-year-old girl
Sentencing report: 13-year sentence backdated to 22 August 2022, when Shorten went into custody. Shorten was separately convicted in June of rape and anal rape of two other young women, and sentence on those offences is to follow.
convicted, Raymond Shorten, 50, male, named, irish (judged from name)Raymond Shortenvictim, 7, female - 22 Jul2024Taxi driver jailed for 13 years for raping child ‘could not care less’ about impact on her, judge says
Reports the sentencing of Raymond Shorten to an effective 13 years by Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo for offences against a child, which occurred more than 10 years ago. It also notes that separate rape convictions from a jury trial last month are to be sentenced by another judge on Thursday; those are not part of this case.
convicted, Raymond Shorten, 50, male, named, irish (judged from name)Raymond Shortenvictim, seven or eight, female - 8 Jul2024Serial rapist - Dublin taxi driver also convicted of raping girl, 7, after her mother's funeral
Only the headline and metadata are present; the body text is template code with no article content. Details come from the headline alone.
victim, 7, femaleconvicted - 8 Jul2024Taxi driver Raymond Shorten guilty of raping girl, 7, days after funeral
Reports Shorten's May conviction for the rape and sexual assault of a seven-year-old girl, the trial evidence and the DPP's sentencing position. Separate 2022 rape charges are not part of this case.
convicted, Raymond Shorten, 50, male, named, irish (judged from name)Raymond Shortenvictim, 7, female - 8 Jul2024Taxi driver rapist with address in South Dublin also guilty of raping a child over a decade ago
Adds the DPP's proposed headline sentence of 10 to 15 years, the victim impact statement, the defence position that Shorten does not accept responsibility, the previous-convictions record, and the court dates for finalisation and sentencing (July 19 and July 22).
convicted, Raymond Shorten, 50, male, named, irish (judged from name)Raymond Shortenvictim, 7, female - 8 Jul2024Dublin rapist taxi driver found guilty of raping seven year old girl 12 years ago - Gript
Reports the guilty verdicts in the case of the seven-year-old girl, the sentencing date of 19 July, the prosecution's sentencing view, and how the abuse came to light.
victim, 7, femaleconvicted, Raymond Shorten, 50, male, named, irish (judged from name)Raymond Shorten - 8 Jul2024Taxi driver rapist also found guilty of raping a seven year-old girl
Adds the victim impact statement, the DPP's sentencing position of a 10 to 15 year headline sentence, the adjournment to 19 July, the defence's position that Shorten does not accept responsibility, and details of the offending and the investigation.
victim, 7, femaleconvicted, Raymond Shorten, 50, male, named, irish (judged from name)Raymond Shorten