Wednesday 28 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. 6303Rape · Co. Dublin · 6 Sep 2019

Man jailed for 7½ years over rape in Hartstown Park, Dublin 15

Aidan Kestell, 55, was jailed for 7½ years at the Central Criminal Court for raping a friend of his wife in Hartstown Park, Dublin 15, in September 2019. The victim, Paula Doyle, waived her right to anonymity and spoke outside court.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced15 Mar
    3 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
24 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA man was jailed for seven and a half years for raping his wife's friend in a Dublin park. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatAidan Kestell was jailed for seven and a half years for raping his wife's friend. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatKestell raped the woman in a park after walking her home from a party at his house. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe offence took place at Hartstown Park, Hartstown, Dublin 15. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe rape happened in Hartstown Park after Kestell walked the woman home from a party at his house. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whenThe offence took place on 6 September 2019. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe rape happened after the man walked the woman home from a party at his house. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí traced anonymous explicit messages sent to the woman to a phone owned by Kestell. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí traced anonymous messages sent to the woman to a phone owned by Kestell. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationGardaí traced anonymous sexual and explicit messages sent to the victim to a phone owned by Kestell. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationKestell was arrested and interviewed several times. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtKestell was convicted of rape after a four-day trial at the Central Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe judge described the offence as a crime of violence and revenge. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of nine years for the rape. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe judge reduced the sentence to eight years and suspended the final six months. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceKestell was ordered to be of good behaviour for three years after release and to have no contact with the woman or her family. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceThe sentence was reduced to eight years, with the final six months suspended. (dublinlive.ie)
  • sentenceKestell must be of good behaviour for three years after release and have no contact with the woman or her family. (dublinlive.ie)
  • sentenceKestell was jailed for 7½ years for the rape. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe sentence was reduced to eight years and the final six months were suspended. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceKestell must be of good behaviour for three years post-release and have no contact with the woman or her family. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherKestell had no previous convictions. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherKestell has no previous convictions. (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherThe judge said there were few mitigating factors and did not agree there was a high degree of co-operation. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 15 Mar2024
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    ‘I am no longer a victim but a real survivor’: Woman speaks after man jailed for her rape in Dublin park

    Reports the sentencing of Aidan Kestell after his conviction at a four-day trial, including the headline sentence, the reduction, the suspended portion and post-release conditions, and the victim's statements. No existing case matches.

    convicted, Aidan Kestell, 55, male, named, irish (judged from name)Aidan Kestellvictim, Paula Doyle, female, irish (judged from name)Paula Doyle
  2. 15 Mar2024
    Sentenceddublinlive.ie, follow-up
    Dublin man jailed for rape of wife's friend in local park

    Reports the sentencing of Aidan Kestell after his conviction at the Central Criminal Court, including the headline sentence, the suspended portion, and the post-release conditions.

    convicted, Aidan Kestell, 55, male, named, irish (judged from name)Aidan Kestellvictim, female
  3. 15 Mar2024
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Man jailed for rape of wife’s friend in Dublin park’

    Sentencing report for a case tried at the Central Criminal Court; it adds the trial outcome, the sentence terms, the investigation details and the victim's impact statement.

    victim, femaleconvicted, Aidan Kestell, 55, male, named, irish (judged from name)Aidan Kestell