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. 20207Rape · Co. Laois · 31 Oct 2019

Laois man jailed for raping friend in 2019

A man, now 20, was convicted by a jury at the Central Criminal Court of raping a 19-year-old woman friend in a wasteland area in Laois on 31 October 2019, after they had left a Halloween bonfire gathering. He had pleaded not guilty and claimed the sexual interaction was consensual. On 25 July 2023 the judge set a headline sentence of four years because he was a juvenile at the time and imposed three years in prison with the final six months suspended, though one report gives the sentence as two and a half years. After release he must engage with the Probation Service for three years, attend a consent course, and will be registered as a sex offender.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced25 Jul
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
A man raped a friend after they left a Halloween bonfire gathering.
Where
The rape took place in a wasteland area in Laois, in the Midlands.
When
The rape happened on 31 October 2019.
Cause
The two had gone to the wasteland area so the man could use the toilet.
Investigation
Before the complaint was made, the man went with his sister to the local garda station, saying he knew an allegation would be made.
Charges
The man pleaded not guilty to rape at the Central Criminal Court.
In court
  • A jury convicted the man of rape before sentencing; the 25 July 2023 reports say this was 'last month'.
  • The judge said a headline sentence of four years applied because the man was a juvenile at the time.
Sentence
  • Sources disagree: the lede and headline say he was jailed for two and a half years, while the report body says three years in prison with the final six months suspended on strict conditions.
  • After release he must engage with the Probation Service for three years and attend a consent course approved by the Probation Service.
  • He will be registered as a sex offender.
Other details
  • The man claimed the allegation was false and the sexual interaction was consensual, and his defence said the same.
  • The man has no previous convictions.
  • The victim said she has become isolated and has lost her independence since the rape.
26 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe accused raped a friend after they had left a Halloween bonfire gathering. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereThe rape took place in a wasteland area in Laois. (offalyexpress.ie, leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe rape happened on 31 October 2019. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe rape occurred on 31 October 2019. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • causeThe two had gone to a wasteland area so the accused could use the toilet. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationThe accused went to the local garda station with his sister before the complaint was made, saying he knew she would make an allegation of rape. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationBefore the complaint, the man went to the local garda station with his sister to say he knew an allegation would be made. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargeThe man pleaded not guilty to rape at the Central Criminal Court. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThe accused pleaded not guilty to rape at the Central Criminal Court. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtA jury convicted the accused of rape last month. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtA jury convicted the man last month. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThe judge said the headline sentence was four years because the man was a juvenile at the time. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge said a headline sentence of four years applied because the accused was a juvenile at the time. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge sentenced the accused to three years in prison and suspended the final six months on strict conditions. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe lede reports the accused was jailed for two and a half years. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe accused must engage with the Probation Service for three years after release and attend a course on consent. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe man was sentenced to three years in prison, with the final six months suspended. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe man was ordered to attend a course on consent approved by the Probation Service. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe accused claimed the allegation was false and the sexual interaction was consensual. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe accused has no previous convictions. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe accused will be registered as a sex offender. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe victim said she has become isolated and has lost her independence since the rape. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe man has no previous convictions. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defence said the sexual interaction was consensual. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe victim is now 19 years old. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe man will be registered as a sex offender. (leinsterexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 25 Jul2023
    Sentencedleinsterexpress.ie, first report
    Laois man jailed for raping friend

    Reports the jury conviction, the sentence of three years with the final six months suspended, the probation and consent-course conditions, the sex offender registration, and the victim impact statement.

    convicted, 20, malevictim, 19, female
  2. 25 Jul2023
    Sentencedoffalyexpress.ie, follow-up
    Man who raped his friend in a wasteland area in the Midlands is jailed

    Reports the sentencing of a man convicted by a jury of raping a friend. The headline and lede say he was jailed for two and a half years, while the body says three years with the final six months suspended.

    convicted, 20, malevictim, 19, female