Thursday 29 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. 7446Rape · Co. Laois · 31 Oct 2019

Laois man to face retrial for rape after conviction quashed

A 20-year-old man from Laois was convicted of raping a friend, a 19-year-old woman, on wasteland on Halloween night 2019, when both were teenagers. He pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court, was found guilty by a unanimous jury in June 2023, and was sentenced in July to three years in prison with the final six months suspended. On 2 October 2023 the Court of Appeal allowed new evidence, a post-trial affidavit from a then 14-year-old friend of the complainant, and quashed the conviction. The case was sent back to the Central Criminal Court for a retrial date to be set, and the man was remanded on continuing bail.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court4 Oct
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
A Laois man was convicted of raping a friend, a 19-year-old woman, who was a teenager at the time.
Where
The alleged rape took place on wasteland in Laois.
When
The alleged rape took place on Halloween night, October 31st, 2019.
Investigation
  • The defence described the Garda investigation as defective, and the friend who gave evidence was not sought during it.
  • The new evidence was a post-trial affidavit from a then 14-year-old friend of the complainant, who said she met the complainant on the night.
In court
  • The man pleaded not guilty before Mr Justice Paul Burns at the Central Criminal Court.
  • A unanimous jury found the man guilty in June 2023.
  • The State argued that the new evidence related only to collateral issues already tested at trial.
  • On 2 October 2023 a three-judge Court of Appeal allowed the new evidence, ruled against the State and quashed the conviction.
  • Mr Justice John Edwards sent the case back to the Central Criminal Court for a retrial date to be set and remanded the man on continuing bail.
Sentence
In July 2023 the man was sentenced to three years in prison with the final six months suspended, and he was to be registered as a sex offender.
Other details
  • The complainant said she lost many friends and moved school and home because she felt unsafe.
  • The man has no previous convictions.
26 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe Court of Appeal quashed a Laois man's rape conviction. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe rape conviction concerned an alleged rape of a friend on wasteland on Halloween night when both were teenagers. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe Court of Appeal quashed a Laois man's rape conviction and ordered a retrial. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe alleged rape took place in an area in Laois. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe rape is alleged to have happened on wasteland in Laois. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe alleged rape took place on October 31st, 2019. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe rape is alleged to have happened on October 31st, 2019. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe new evidence was a post-trial affidavit from a then 14-year-old friend of the complainant. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe defence described the Garda investigation as defective. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe new evidence is a post-trial affidavit from a friend of the complainant, who was 14 at the time. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe man pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe man was found guilty by a unanimous jury in June. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe Court of Appeal allowed new evidence into the case. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe three-judge court ruled against the State. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe man pleaded not guilty before Mr Justice Paul Burns at the Central Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe jury at the original trial convicted the man unanimously. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe State argued the evidence related only to collateral issues already tested at trial. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe three-judge Court of Appeal ruled against the State and quashed the conviction. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe State was denied an opportunity to cross-examine the girl in the appeal motion. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtMr Justice John Edwards sent the case back to the Central Criminal Court for a retrial date to be set. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe man was remanded on continuing bail. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe man was sentenced to three years in prison with the final six months suspended. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe man will be registered as a sex offender. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe man was jailed less than three months before the appeal ruling. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe complainant said she lost many friends and moved school and home because she felt unsafe. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe man has no previous convictions. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 4 Oct2023
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Laois man to face retrial for rape after new evidence from friend of complainant emerges

    The Court of Appeal quashed the conviction on Monday 2 October 2023 after admitting new evidence, and sent the case back to the Central Criminal Court for a retrial. The man was remanded on continuing bail.

    accused, 20, malevictim, female
  2. 2 Oct2023
    Otheririshtimes.com, first report
    Conviction for rape quashed after Court of Appeal allows new evidence

    Reports that the Court of Appeal quashed the conviction after allowing a post-trial affidavit from a then 14-year-old friend of the complainant. Also gives the sentence imposed in July, the trial plea and the victim's impact statement.

    convicted, 20, malevictim, 19, female