Thursday 5 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. 27096Rape · Co. Wicklow · 1 Jan 1986

Man sentenced for rape of 13-year-old in Greystones, Co Wicklow

In 1986, Ian Ryan, an 18-year-old man, raped his 13-year-old girlfriend at her family home in Greystones, Co Wicklow, after the pair had met at a disco in a rugby club that year. Ryan moved in with the victim's family in August 1986, and she was 14 when her son was born in December 1986. In 2021, gardaí received an anonymous letter alleging the rape, which led to an investigation and the victim making a formal complaint. Ryan pleaded guilty to rape at the Central Criminal Court, where Justice Paul McDermott sentenced him to four years' imprisonment with the final year suspended on conditions including no contact with the victim.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced27 Apr
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Ian Ryan, an 18-year-old man, raped his 13-year-old girlfriend at her family home in Greystones, Co Wicklow, on a date between January 1 and March 31, 1986.
  • The victim was 14 when her son was born in December 1986.
Where
The incident took place in the victim's family home in Greystones, Co Wicklow, while her parents were out and she was babysitting her siblings.
When
The pair met in 1986 at a disco in a rugby club, and Ryan moved in with the victim's family in August 1986.
Investigation
In 2021, gardaí received an anonymous letter alleging the rape, leading to an investigation and the victim making a formal complaint.
Charges
Ryan pleaded guilty to rape at a place in Greystones, Co Wicklow on a date between January 1 and March 31, 1986.
In court
Justice Paul McDermott sentenced Ryan at the Central Criminal Court, noting the significant age difference but also that Ryan had just turned 18.
Sentence
Ryan was sentenced to four years' imprisonment with the final year suspended, effectively a three-year term, on conditions including engaging with violent behaviour and alcohol abuse programmes and having no contact with the victim.
Other details
  • Ryan is a father of five with no previous convictions in Ireland but some convictions for shoplifting and road traffic offences from the UK.
  • The victim wished to waive her anonymity and had experienced flashbacks to the rape and attempted to take her own life in her 20s.
31 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe girl found a condom in the house and said no when Ryan asked if she wanted to use it. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatRyan began crying and became extremely distressed that she had declined to have sex with him. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe couple met in 1986 at a disco in a rugby club (kildarenow.com)
  • whatAfter his arrest in 2021, Ryan told gardaí the sexual activity was consensual and he did not know the victim was 13 (kildarenow.com)
  • whatThe victim tried to take her own life when she was in her 20s (kildarenow.com)
  • whatRyan is a father of five with no previous convictions in Ireland (kildarenow.com)
  • whatRyan came from a violent family home (kildarenow.com)
  • whatRyan had a history of chronic alcohol abuse (kildarenow.com)
  • whatIn August 1986 Ryan moved in with the victim and her family, and in December she was pregnant (kildarenow.com)
  • whatThe victim was 14 when her son was born (kildarenow.com)
  • whereThe incident took place in her family home while her parents were out and she was babysitting her siblings. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThey began sexual intercourse on the floor of the kitchen. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe rape took place at the victim's family home in Greystones, Co Wicklow (kildarenow.com)
  • whenThe pair met in 1986 at a disco in a rugby club. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenIn August 1986, Ryan moved in with the girl and her family. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenIn December 1986, the girl was pregnant. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe offence occurred on a date between January 1 and March 31, 1986 (kildarenow.com)
  • investigationIn 2021, garda received an anonymous letter alleging Ian Ryan had raped the victim in 1986. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí received an anonymous letter in 2021 alleging the rape (kildarenow.com)
  • chargeRyan pleaded guilty to rape at a place in Greystones, Co Wicklow on a date between January 1 and March 31, 1986. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeRyan pleaded guilty to rape (kildarenow.com)
  • courtJustice Paul McDermott noted the significant age difference but also considered that Ryan had just turned 18. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtJustice Paul McDermott sentenced Ryan at the Central Criminal Court (kildarenow.com)
  • courtMichael Delaney SC was prosecuting (kildarenow.com)
  • sentenceIan Ryan was jailed for three years for the rape of his 13-year-old girlfriend over three decades ago. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe judge suspended the final year of a four-year prison term on conditions including engaging with violent behaviour and alcohol abuse programmes and having no contact with the victim. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceRyan was sentenced to four years' imprisonment with the final year suspended (kildarenow.com)
  • otherThe victim was aged 14 when her son was born. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe victim still got flashbacks to the rape and tried to take her own life in her 20s. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherRyan is now a father of five with no previous convictions in Ireland but some convictions for shoplifting and road traffic offences from the UK. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe victim wished to waive her anonymity. (irishtimes.com, kildarenow.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 27 Apr2022
    Sentencedkildarenow.com, its first report
    Wicklow man jailed for the rape of his 13-year-old girlfriend 30 years ago

    Provides full details of the sentencing hearing before Justice Paul McDermott, including the judge's reasoning, the victim impact statement, Ryan's background, and the conditions of the suspended sentence.

    victim, 13, femaleconvicted, Ian Ryan, 18, male, named, irish (judged from name)Ian Ryan
  2. 27 Apr2022
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Man jailed for the rape of his 13-year-old girlfriend three decades ago

    Sentencing details: three-year term with final year suspended on conditions including no contact with the victim and engagement with violent behaviour and alcohol abuse programmes. Judge Paul McDermott noted the significant age difference, Ryan's youth (just turned 18), his violent and dysfunctional childhood, and his expressions of remorse.

    convicted, Ian Ryan, 18, male, named, irish (judged from name)Ian Ryanvictim, 13, female