Sunday 1 November 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. 1445Rape, sexual assault · Co. Dublin · 15 Feb 2018

Man refused bail ahead of rape conviction appeal in Dublin

On 15 February 2018, a 17-year-old woman was raped and sexually assaulted at an apartment on Middle Abbey Street, Dublin 1, after being given alcohol at a gathering near a concert venue where she had been refused entry for being underage. Jibola Moses Akanni, a 27-year-old man from Drogheda, Co Louth, was found guilty by a Central Criminal Court jury of two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. Mr Justice David Keane sentenced him to eight and a half years in prison in June 2025, with two years of post-release probation supervision. In February 2026, Ms Justice Niamh Hyland at the Court of Appeal refused Akanni's application for bail ahead of his conviction appeal hearing, which is scheduled for June 2026.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court28 Feb
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced26 Jun
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • On 15 February 2018, a 17-year-old woman was raped and sexually assaulted at an apartment on Middle Abbey Street, Dublin 1, after being given alcohol at a gathering near a concert venue where she had been refused entry for being underage.
  • At the time of the assault the victim was fully dressed but unable to keep her eyes open or speak.
  • Akanni has 28 previous convictions from Ireland and the UK for road traffic matters, theft, public order, and handling stolen property.
Where
Akanni lives at St Laurence Drive, Drogheda, Co Louth.
When
The incident took place on 15 February 2018.
Investigation
Akanni was identified using CCTV and documents relating to the rented accommodation where he had stayed.
Charges
Akanni was found guilty by a Central Criminal Court jury of two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.
In court
  • Mr Justice David Keane passed the sentence at the Central Criminal Court in June 2025.
  • Ms Justice Niamh Hyland refused Akanni's bail application at the Court of Appeal in February 2026 ahead of his conviction appeal hearing scheduled for June 2026.
Sentence
Akanni was sentenced to eight and a half years on each rape count and three and a half years for sexual assault, all concurrent, backdated to November when he went into custody, with two years of post-release probation supervision.
31 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatAkanni has 28 previous convictions from Ireland and the UK. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatHis previous convictions relate to road traffic matters, theft, public order, and handling stolen property. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe victim travelled to Dublin to attend a concert but was refused entry as she was underage. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatA male she had met before invited her and two friends to an apartment next door to the venue where she met Akanni. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatAkanni held a bottle of alcohol to the victim's lips and told her to drink. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe victim complained she was light-headed and Akanni turned off the lights in the bedroom. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatAt the time of the assault the victim was fully dressed, unable to keep her eyes open, and unable to speak. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatAkanni put his penis in her mouth, removed her trousers and underwear, and put his mouth on her genital area. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatHer friends noticed her trousers were on inside out and her underwear was on incorrectly and stained. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe victim was examined in a sexual assault treatment unit. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatAkanni was found guilty by a Central Criminal Court jury of two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe victim travelled to Dublin to attend a concert but was refused entry because she was underage. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatOutside the venue she met a man she had met before, who invited her and two friends to his apartment next door to the venue. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatAkanni repeatedly held a bottle of alcohol to the victim's lips despite her saying she was lightheaded and wanted to go to sleep. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe victim was fully dressed but unable to keep her eyes open and not able to speak. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatAggravating factors included the extended nature of the ordeal while the victim was barely conscious, the age disparity, and that she was intoxicated and vulnerable. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatAkanni has 28 previous convictions from Ireland and the UK for road traffic matters, theft, public order and handling stolen property. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe offences occurred at an apartment on Middle Abbey Street, Dublin 1. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereAkanni lives at St Laurence Drive, Drogheda, Co Louth. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe offences took place at an apartment in Dublin city centre. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe incident took place on 15 February 2018. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe offences occurred on 15 February 2018. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationAkanni was identified using CCTV and documents relating to the rented accommodation where he had stayed. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeAkanni was found guilty of two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtMr Justice David Keane passed the sentence at the Central Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe conviction appeal hearing is scheduled for June 2026. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of nine years for each rape charge and four years for the sexual assault charge. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceAkanni was sentenced to eight and a half years on each rape count and three and a half years for sexual assault, all concurrent. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceThe sentence was backdated to November when he went into custody. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceAkanni was placed under the supervision of the Probation Services for two years post-release. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceAkanni was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison by Mr Justice David Keane in June 2025. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 28 Feb2026
    In courtirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Criminal who raped 'barely conscious' teen girl refused bail

    Reports the Court of Appeal bail hearing where Ms Justice Niamh Hyland refused Akanni's application, finding the appeal grounds not 'clear cut' or 'discrete' with a strong chance of success. Provides detailed sentencing hearing evidence about the circumstances of the assault.

    convicted, Jibola Moses Akanni, 27, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Jibola Moses Akannivictim, 17, female
  2. 26 Jun2025
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Man jailed for eight and half years for rape of intoxicated teenager

    Reports the full sentencing hearing, including details of how the victim met Akanni at an apartment near a concert venue, the manner of the assault, the judge's reasoning on aggravating and mitigating factors, and the concurrent sentence with two years' post-release probation supervision.

    victim, 17, femaleconvicted, Jibola Moses Akanni, 27, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Jibola Moses Akanni