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. 5314Rape · Co. Cork · 28 Aug 2019

Man jailed for six years for rape in Cork city laneway

On 28 August 2019 a woman was raped in a laneway in Cork city in broad daylight. The accused, Wayne Higgins, is a 27-year-old man of no fixed abode who had been drinking with her earlier that day. Gardaí found documentation bearing his name nearby, DNA matching him was found on examination of the woman, and he was arrested and denied any sexual interaction with her. Higgins pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to one count of rape, and on 31 July 2024 Mr Justice Paul Burns jailed him for six years, with the final year of a seven-year sentence suspended for three years on conditions.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced31 Jul
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Wayne Higgins, a 27-year-old man, pleaded guilty to raping a woman in a laneway in Cork city.
  • The attack continued after local residents told Higgins they were calling gardaí.
Where
The offence took place in a laneway in Cork city.
When
The rape took place on 28 August 2019.
Other details
  • Higgins had been drinking with the woman earlier in Cork city and she had asked him to escort her to a bus.
  • Higgins has previous convictions, including for drugs, robbery, stalking, harassment and breach of a barring order.
Investigation
  • Gardaí found documentation bearing Higgins's name nearby.
  • Higgins's DNA was found on examination of the woman.
  • Higgins was arrested and denied any sexual interaction with the woman.
Charges
Higgins pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to one count of rape.
In court
Mr Justice Paul Burns said the woman was intoxicated and vulnerable and that Higgins had betrayed the trust placed in him.
Sentence
  • The judge set a headline sentence of 10 years, reduced to seven years to reflect the guilty plea.
  • Higgins was jailed for six years, with the final year of the seven-year sentence suspended for three years on conditions including engaging with the Probation Service and having no contact with the woman.
15 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA man raped a woman in broad daylight and continued the attack after local residents said they were calling gardaí. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe offence took place in a laneway in Cork city. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe accused had been drinking with the woman earlier in Cork city. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe rape took place in Cork city on 28 August 2019. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí arrived and found documentation bearing Higgins's name nearby. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationHiggins's DNA was found inside the woman's body after she was examined. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationHiggins was arrested and denied any sexual interaction with the woman. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeHiggins pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to one count of rape. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtMr Justice Paul Burns said the woman was intoxicated and vulnerable and that Higgins had betrayed the trust placed in him. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceHiggins was jailed for six years by Mr Justice Paul Burns. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of 10 years. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe judge took the guilty plea into account and imposed a sentence of seven years. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe final year of the sentence was suspended for three years on conditions, including engaging with the Probation Service and having no contact with the woman. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherHiggins had been homeless at the time of the offence. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherHiggins has previous convictions including for drugs, robbery, stalking, harassment and breach of a barring order. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 31 Jul2024
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Man who raped woman in laneway continued attack after gardaí were called

    Reports the sentence: six years in total, with the final year suspended for three years on conditions, after a guilty plea to rape in a Cork city laneway.

    convicted, Wayne Higgins, 27, male, named, irish (judged from name)Wayne Higginsvictim, female