Case No. 1351Rape, assault (strangling) · Co. Dublin · 28 Apr 2024
Patrick Ward jailed for 10 years for raping and strangling partner in Dublin
Patrick Ward, 36, of no fixed abode in Dublin 1, raped his 41-year-old partner in her apartment between 28 April and 4 May 2024 and was later found by gardaí strangling her on 21 May 2024. Ward, who has 98 previous convictions and was a registered sex offender, was arrested at the scene and pleaded guilty to one count of rape. In July 2025 the Central Criminal Court sentenced him to 10 years in prison and a 40-year contact ban, though the case headline records a sentence of 16 years. The woman, who wished not to be named, told the court she had lost her apartment and job as a result of the trauma.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced14 Jul
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Patrick Ward, 36, of no fixed abode in Dublin 1, raped his 41-year-old partner in her apartment between 28 April and 4 May 2024.
- Gardaí found Ward on top of the woman, strangling her, when they responded to a 999 call on 21 May 2024, and he was arrested at the scene.
- Ward has 98 previous convictions, was a registered sex offender, and had recently been released from a lengthy prison sentence for a sexual assault matter.
- Ward regularly self-harmed and made suicide attempts in front of the woman to control her, and moved into her apartment shortly after they met in 2023.
- The woman walked into a city-centre Garda station to state she was in fear of Ward and was put out for smoking; she later found a video recording of the rape on Ward's phone and forwarded it to herself before he deleted it.
- When
- The rape occurred between 28 April and 4 May 2024; the strangling incident occurred on 21 May 2024.
- Where
- The offences took place in the woman's apartment in Dublin.
- Charges
- Ward pleaded guilty to one count of raping the woman in her apartment.
- Sentence
- The Central Criminal Court sentenced Ward to 10 years in prison and a 40-year contact ban in July 2025; the case headline records a sentence of 16 years.
- Other details
- The woman, who wished not to be named, told the court she struggled with anxiety and night terrors and lost her apartment and job as a result of the trauma.
20 statements extracted from the articles
- whatPatrick Ward is 36 years old and of no fixed abode in Dublin 1 (irishtimes.com)
- whatWard regularly self-harmed and made suicide attempts in front of the woman to control her (irishtimes.com)
- whatWard has 98 previous convictions (irishtimes.com)
- whatWard was a registered sex offender (irishtimes.com)
- whatWard moved into the woman's apartment shortly after they met (irishtimes.com)
- whatWard failed to tell gardaí about his change of address (irishtimes.com)
- whatWard had recently been released from a lengthy prison sentence for a sexual assault matter (irishtimes.com)
- whatGardaí found Ward on top of the woman, strangling her (irishtimes.com)
- whatWard was arrested at the scene (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe woman walked into a city-centre Garda station to state she was in fear of Ward (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe woman was put out of the Garda station for smoking (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe woman found a video recording of the rape on Ward's phone (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe woman forwarded the video to herself before Ward deleted it (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe woman struggled with anxiety and night terrors (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe woman lost her apartment and her job as a result of the trauma (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe rape occurred between 28 April and 4 May 2024 (irishtimes.com)
- whenWard and the woman met in 2023 (irishtimes.com)
- whenGardaí responded to a 999 call on 21 May 2024 (irishtimes.com)
- chargeWard pleaded guilty to one count of raping the woman in her apartment (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe headline sentence was 16 years (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 14 Jul2025Man who raped partner and was later caught by gardaí trying to strangle her is jailed for 10 years
Reports the sentencing of Patrick Ward, including the circumstances of the rape and strangling, his 98 previous convictions, the victim's impact statement, and a 40-year contact ban.
convicted, Patrick Ward, 36, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick Wardvictim, 41, female