Ireland Man sentenced for rape and coercive control in Dublin
Nathan Grant McNulty, 27, of Carrickmines, Co. Dublin, was sentenced on 19 December 2025 at the Central Criminal Court to nine years for the rape and coercive control of Sarah Ryan. The court heard that the pair met in 2018, that McNulty headbutted Ryan in March 2018 knocking her onto the road, and that he raped her in March 2019, with the relationship ending in March 2022. McNulty pleaded guilty to both charges, which the DPP accepted on a full facts basis. The judge set a 13-year global headline sentence, reduced to nine years for mitigation, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions including a lifetime no-contact order and two years of Probation Services supervision.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced19 Dec
2 reports
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- McNulty raped the victim in March 2019 and the court heard he coercively controlled her over the course of their relationship.
- In March 2018, after an argument, McNulty headbutted the victim knocking her onto the road, and in a later incident he grabbed and punched her arm and smashed her phone against the wall.
- Where
- McNulty is from Ballyogan Avenue, Carrickmines, Co. Dublin.
- When
- McNulty and the victim met in 2018 and quickly started a relationship, which ended in March 2022.
- Charges
- McNulty pleaded guilty to rape and coercive control.
- In court
- The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court and the guilty pleas were accepted by the DPP on a full facts basis.
- Sentence
- McNulty was sentenced to nine years with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions including a lifetime no-contact order.
- The judge set a 13-year global headline sentence, reduced to nine years for mitigation and personal circumstances, and placed McNulty under Probation Services supervision for two years post-release.
- Other details
- The victim, Sarah Ryan, waived her right to anonymity so that McNulty could be named.
- McNulty has no previous convictions, and defence counsel said he was 20 at the time of the offending and had a troubled childhood.
- The judge found the offending took place in an intimate and domestic relationship, which is an aggravating factor.
32 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe victim told gardaí the rape was extremely painful and that she told McNulty to stop. (rte.ie)
- whatThe court heard that McNulty coercively controlled the victim. (rte.ie)
- whatIn March 2018, McNulty headbutted the victim, knocking her onto the road. (rte.ie)
- whatThe relationship ended in March 2022. (rte.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whatIn March 2018, after an argument, he headbutted her, knocking her onto the road. (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe grabbed and punched her arm in a later incident. (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe grabbed and smashed her phone against the wall. (irishtimes.com)
- whereMcNulty is from Ballyogan Avenue, Carrickmines, Co. Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
- whenMcNulty raped the victim in March 2019. (rte.ie)
- whenThe rape took place in March 2019. (irishtimes.com)
- whenMcNulty and the injured party met in 2018 and quickly started a relationship. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeMcNulty pleaded guilty to rape and coercive control. (rte.ie)
- chargeMcNulty pleaded guilty to charges of rape and coercive control. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe pleas were accepted by the Director of Public Prosecutions on a full facts basis. (rte.ie)
- courtThe case was heard at the Central Criminal Court. (rte.ie)
- courtThe guilty pleas were acceptable to the DPP on a full facts basis. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceMcNulty was given a nine-year sentence with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. (rte.ie)
- sentenceThe judge set a global headline sentence of 13 years and reduced it to nine years for mitigation and McNulty's personal circumstances. (rte.ie)
- sentenceThe judge found the offending took place in an intimate and domestic relationship, which is an aggravating factor. (rte.ie)
- sentenceMcNulty was placed under Probation Services supervision for two years post-release. (rte.ie)
- sentenceThe suspended part of the sentence requires McNulty to have no contact with the victim for life. (rte.ie)
- sentenceMcNulty was handed a nine-year sentence with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceMcNulty was placed under the supervision of the Probation Services for two years post-release. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMcNulty and the victim met in 2018 and quickly started a relationship. (rte.ie)
- otherMcNulty has no previous convictions. (rte.ie, irishtimes.com)
- otherDefence counsel said McNulty was 20 at the time and had a troubled childhood. (rte.ie)
- otherThe victim waived her right to anonymity so that McNulty could be named. (rte.ie)
- otherSubstance abuse by McNulty was accepted as a feature of the case. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMcNulty has a young child with his new partner. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMcNulty experienced suicidal ideation around the time the relationship ended and was detained under the Mental Health Act. (irishtimes.com)
- otherSarah Ryan waived her right to anonymity so McNulty could be named. (irishtimes.com)
- otherA rape survivor issued a message of hope outside court. (extra.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 19 Dec2025Rape survivor issues brave message of hope outside court
Only the headline and publish date (2025-12-19) are usable; the body is unrendered template code. No existing case matches, and the article gives no location, date, names or charges.
victim - 19 Dec2025‘I want to turn my pain into purpose’, says woman raped by former partner after his jailing
Sentencing report: McNulty received a nine-year sentence (13-year global headline reduced, final 12 months suspended) with two years' Probation Services supervision post-release. Victim Sarah Ryan waived anonymity and gave a victim impact statement. The court heard evidence of the March 2019 rape and years of physical, verbal and controlling abuse.
victim, Sarah Ryan, female, irish (judged from name)Sarah Ryanconvicted, Nathan Grant McNulty, 27, male, named, irish (judged from name)Nathan Grant McNulty - 19 Dec2025'You can survive', says woman as partner jailed for rape
Reports the sentence of nine years with the final 12 months suspended, the judge's remarks on aggravating and mitigating factors, the probation supervision and no-contact conditions, and Ms Ryan's statement after sentencing. Its standfirst says 'eight years', but the body says nine.
victim, Sarah Ryan, female, irish (judged from name)Sarah Ryanconvicted, Nathan Grant McNulty, 27, male, named, irish (judged from name)Nathan Grant McNulty