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. 1201Rape · Co. Dublin · 1 Jan 2019

Man sentenced to seven years for raping Spanish tourist in Dublin on New Year's Eve 2019

Christopher O'Grady, 34, a man formerly of Dundalk, Co Louth, was found guilty by a jury of raping a 19-year-old Spanish woman in a car park area in Dublin city centre on January 1, 2019, during New Year's Eve celebrations. The woman, who was in Dublin to watch the fireworks, was intoxicated and unable to walk when the offence occurred, and the jury found her incapable of giving consent. Following a trial in March 2025, Ms Justice Caroline Biggs at the Central Criminal Court sentenced O'Grady to seven years' imprisonment with the final six months suspended on July 31, 2025. O'Grady, who was homeless at the time and has 65 previous convictions, has been in custody since August 2024 after taking a bench warrant while on bail for the offence.

  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
  • O'Grady was found guilty of one count of raping the then 19-year-old Spanish woman on January 1, 2019.
  • The jury found the victim incapable of giving consent due to her intoxication, and the judge identified her intoxication, inability to walk, and being entirely lost as aggravating factors.
  • The victim was in Dublin to watch the New Year's Eve fireworks, got separated from her friend, and after the rape walked with O'Grady through the city centre for about 40 minutes.
  • The victim now suffers from PTSD, depression, hypervigilance, and feelings of distrust, fear and isolation.
  • The victim had anal sex with a second man at a B&B after the incident, no charge was brought against him, and CCTV footage of the encounter was played in court.
Where
The rape occurred in a car park area in Dublin city centre.
When
The offence took place during New Year's Eve celebrations on January 1, 2019.
Charges
The defence argued O'Grady was guilty of rape on the basis that he was reckless as to whether the woman was consenting.
In court
The trial took place in March 2025 and sentencing was carried out by Ms Justice Caroline Biggs at the Central Criminal Court on July 31, 2025.
Sentence
O'Grady was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment with the final six months suspended.
Other details
  • O'Grady, formerly of Muirhevnamor, Dundalk, Co Louth, was homeless, begging on the streets and doing drugs at the time of the offence, and has 65 previous convictions including public order offences, criminal damage, drugs and theft.
  • O'Grady took a bench warrant while on bail for this offence and has been in custody since August 2024.
  • The Probation Service recommended that restorative justice was not feasible due to O'Grady's position during an interview.
19 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatO'Grady was found guilty of one count of raping the then 19-year-old woman on January 1, 2019. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe judge identified the victim's intoxication, inability to walk, and being 'entirely lost' as aggravating factors. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe jury found the victim was incapable of giving consent due to her intoxication. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe victim now suffers from PTSD, depression, hypervigilance, and feelings of distrust, fear and isolation. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe victim was in Dublin to watch the New Year's Eve fireworks and got separated from her friend. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatAfter the rape, the victim walked with O'Grady back through the city centre for about 40 minutes. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe victim had anal sex with a second man at a B&B after the incident, and no charge was brought against him. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe rape occurred in a car park area in Dublin city centre. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe offence took place during New Year's Eve celebrations on 1 January 2019. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeDefence argued O'Grady was guilty of rape on the basis that he was reckless as to whether the woman was consenting. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe sentencing was carried out by Ms Justice Caroline Biggs at the Central Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceO'Grady was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment with the final six months suspended. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherO'Grady has 65 previous convictions including public order offences, criminal damage, drugs and theft. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherO'Grady took a bench warrant while on bail for this offence and has been in custody since August 2024. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe Probation Service recommended that restorative justice was not feasible due to O'Grady's position during an interview. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherCCTV footage of the B&B encounter was played in court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherO'Grady was homeless, begging on the streets and doing drugs at the time of the offence. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe trial took place in March 2025. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherO'Grady is described as formerly of Muirhevnamor, Dundalk, Co Louth. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 31 Jul2025
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Man who raped young Spanish tourist in Dublin on New Year's Eve sentenced

    Sentencing hearing before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs at the Central Criminal Court, including details on aggravating and mitigating factors, the victim's impact statement, the consideration and rejection of restorative justice, and the defendant's 65 previous convictions.

    victim, 19, female, Spanish, non-irishconvicted, Christopher O'Grady, 34, male, named, irish (judged from name)Christopher O'Grady