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. 6552Rape · Co. Laois · 27 Dec 2017

Man jailed for four years over 2017 rape in Co Laois

Ivan Kelly, a 23-year-old man, raped a woman on December 27th, 2017, in a town in Co Laois. Kelly was arrested and questioned, denied the rape, left Ireland for England and was later extradited. He pleaded not guilty, and a Central Criminal Court jury convicted him after a trial the previous October. On Tuesday, February 13th, 2024, he was jailed for four years, backdated to June 29th, 2022, and ordered to have no contact with the woman.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced13 Feb
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Ivan Kelly, a 23-year-old man, was convicted by a jury of raping a woman.
Where
The rape took place in a town in Co Laois.
When
The rape took place on December 27th, 2017.
Investigation
  • Kelly was arrested and questioned and denied raping the woman.
  • Kelly left Ireland for England and was later extradited.
In court
Kelly pleaded not guilty and was tried by a jury at the Central Criminal Court.
Sentence
  • Kelly was jailed for four years on February 13th, 2024.
  • The sentence was backdated to June 29th, 2022, when Kelly entered custody.
  • Kelly was ordered to have no direct or indirect contact with the woman for an indefinite period.
Other details
  • The judge said the offending had a very significant effect and caused great harm.
  • Aggravating factors were the use of force, the extradition from the UK, Kelly's 27 previous convictions and the gravity of the offending.
  • The most significant mitigating factor was that Kelly was 17 at the time of the rape.
  • A probation officer assessed Kelly as at medium risk of reoffending.
  • The woman said Kelly's apology letter felt disingenuous because he showed no remorse during the trial, while defence counsel said he fully accepts the verdict and expresses remorse.
17 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatKelly was convicted by a jury of raping the woman. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe rape took place in a town in Co Laois. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe rape took place on December 27th, 2017. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationKelly was arrested and questioned but denied raping the woman. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationKelly left Ireland for England and was later extradited. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtKelly had pleaded not guilty and was tried by a jury at the Central Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceKelly was jailed for four years. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe sentence was backdated to June 29th, 2022, when Kelly entered custody. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceKelly was ordered to have no direct or indirect contact with the victim for an indefinite period. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe judge said the offending had a very significant effect and caused great harm. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherAggravating factors included the use of force, the extradition from the UK, previous convictions and the gravity of the offending. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherA probation officer assessed Kelly as at medium risk of reoffending. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe most significant mitigating factor was that Kelly was 17 at the time of the rape. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherKelly has 27 previous convictions. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe woman said Kelly's apology letter felt disingenuous because he showed no remorse during the trial. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe woman said she had been left feeling empty and sad after the rape. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherDefence counsel said Kelly fully accepts the verdict and expresses remorse. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 13 Feb2024
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Woman criticises ‘disingenuous’ apology letter as rapist (23) jailed for four years

    Sentencing report. Adds the judge's sentence, the backdating to June 29th, 2022, the no-contact order, the mitigating and aggravating factors, the probation risk assessment, the defendant's previous convictions and the victim's letter and impact statement.

    convicted, Ivan Kelly, 23, male, named, irish (judged from name)Ivan Kellyvictim, female