Friday 6 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. 27693Rape · Co. Cork

Rape appeal judgment reserved in Cork

A 29-year-old man was convicted of raping a 17-year-old woman at an address in Midleton, County Cork, in August 2017. He pleaded not guilty at a trial in September 2020 at the Central Criminal Court in Cork, where a jury returned a guilty verdict. He was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment with the final three suspended by Mr Justice Alexander Owens. The man appealed on grounds relating to the admissibility of his Google searches for 'rape kit accuracy' and the trial judge's interventions. The Court of Appeal reserved its judgment on the appeal in March 2022.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court10 Mar
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
A 29-year-old man was convicted of raping a 17-year-old woman.
Where
The alleged rape took place at an address in Midleton, County Cork.
When
The alleged rape took place in August 2017.
In court
  • The man pleaded not guilty to one count of rape at a trial in September 2020 at the Central Criminal Court in Cork, where a jury convicted him.
  • The man appealed on grounds relating to the admissibility of his Google searches and the trial judge's interventions.
  • The Court of Appeal reserved its judgment on the appeal in March 2022.
Sentence
He was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment with the final three suspended by Mr Justice Alexander Owens.
Other details
  • The man made Google searches for 'rape kit accuracy' after being told a complaint of rape had been made to gardaí against him.
  • Siobhan Lankford SC acted for the appellant and Ray Boland SC acted for the DPP.
12 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe appellant is a 29-year-old man (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe victim is a 17-year-old female (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe alleged rape took place at an address in Midleton, County Cork (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe alleged rape took place in August 2017 (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe searches were made after he was told a complaint of rape had been made to gardaí against him (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe man pleaded not guilty to one count of rape (irishtimes.com)
  • courtA jury convicted him following a trial in September 2020 at the Central Criminal Court in Cork (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe sentencing judge was Mr Justice Alexander Owens (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe Court of Appeal heard the appeal on Thursday (irishtimes.com)
  • courtSiobhan Lankford SC acted for the appellant (irishtimes.com)
  • courtRay Boland SC acted for the DPP (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe Court of Appeal reserved its judgment (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 10 Mar2022
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Google search for ‘rape kit accuracy’ should not have been presented to jury, court told

    Court of Appeal hearing on the man's appeal against his rape conviction, with arguments over the admissibility of his Google searches and the extent of the trial judge's interventions. Judgment reserved.

    convicted, 29, malevictim, 17, female