Ireland Case No. 5364Rape · Co. Dublin
Raymond Shorten sentenced to further 17 years over Dublin taxi rapes
Raymond Shorten, a 50-year-old man, raped two women, aged 19 and 20, in his taxi in Dublin on separate nights in 2022. Gardaí revoked his taxi licence when the investigation began, and he pleaded not guilty. A jury at the Central Criminal Court found him guilty in June 2024, and on 25 July 2024 Judge Paul McDermott sentenced him to 17 years for the taxi rapes, consecutive to a separate 13-year sentence, for a total of 30 years. The latest development is Minister for Justice Helen McEntee's promise to implement taxi licensing reform as soon as possible.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced25 Jul
6 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Raymond Shorten, a 50-year-old taxi driver, raped two women who were passengers in his taxi.
- Where
- The rapes took place in the back of Shorten's taxi in Dublin, after the women had been out in Dublin city centre.
- When
- The first woman, then 19, was raped on the night of 25 June 2022, though one source gives 26 June 2022.
- The second woman, then 20, was raped after going for drinks in Dublin city centre on 8 August 2022, though one source gives 9 August 2022.
- The two rapes took place on separate nights in 2022.
- Cause
- The judge said breach of trust was a clear aggravating factor because Shorten was a taxi driver who preyed on passengers who should have been able to regard a taxi as safe.
- Investigation
- Gardaí revoked Shorten's taxi licence as soon as the investigation against him began, and his PSV licence was reviewed and suspended from that time.
- Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said there was a reasonable proposition that Shorten attacked other women whose cases have not come to light and urged them to come forward.
- Charges
- Shorten pleaded not guilty to the rapes.
- In court
- A jury at the Central Criminal Court found Shorten guilty in June 2024 of two counts of rape and one of anal rape.
- Sentence
- Judge Paul McDermott imposed nine years for one victim and eight years for the other, which were made consecutive, giving a total of 17 years for the two taxi rapes.
- The 17-year sentence will not begin until Shorten completes a separate 13-year sentence for raping a seven-year-old girl, giving a total of 30 years before remission.
- With standard remission of 25 per cent, Shorten would be 72 years old on release.
- Other details
- Shorten denied the rapes and said the sexual activity was consensual.
- Minister for Justice Helen McEntee promised to implement taxi licensing reform proposals as soon as possible.
60 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA Dublin taxi driver was sentenced to 17 years in prison for raping two young passengers. (irishtimes.com)
- whatShorten was convicted of raping two women in his taxi in 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatShorten raped the women after picking them up as passengers while working as a taxi driver. (irishtimes.com)
- whatRaymond Shorten was sentenced to 30 years in prison for three rapes. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatRaymond Shorten, 50, was jailed for 17 years for raping two women in his taxi. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe offences took place in the back of Shorten's taxi. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe two taxi rapes happened in Dublin city centre in the summer of 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe women had been in a taxi after nights out in Dublin city centre. (dublinlive.ie)
- whereThe rapes took place in Shorten's taxi. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe second offence was on August 9th, 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe rapes took place in separate incidents in 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe first woman was attacked on the night of June 25th, 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe second woman was attacked after going for drinks in Dublin city centre on August 8th, 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe first woman was raped in June 2022, when she was 19. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe first woman said the incident happened on the night of 25 June 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe second woman said she went for drinks in Dublin city centre on 8 August 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe offences were committed on separate nights in 2022. (dublinlive.ie)
- whenThe first woman was raped on the night of June 25, 2022. (dublinlive.ie)
- whenThe second woman was raped after going for drinks in Dublin city centre on August 8, 2022. (dublinlive.ie)
- whenThe rapes took place on separate nights in 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe judge said breach of trust was a clear aggravating factor because Shorten was a taxi driver. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeThe judge said Shorten effectively preyed on the victims, who should have been able to regard a taxi as safe. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationGardaí revoked Shorten's taxi licence when the investigation against him began. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationShorten's PSV licence was reviewed and suspended from the time the investigation began. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGarda Commissioner Drew Harris urged any other victims to come forward. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGarda Commissioner Drew Harris said it was a reasonable proposition that Shorten had other victims and urged them to come forward. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationShorten committed the taxi rapes while under investigation for the rape of a young child. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGarda Commissioner Drew Harris said there was a reasonable proposition that Shorten attacked other women whose crimes have not come to light. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí revoked Shorten's taxi licence as soon as they began investigating him for the attacks on passengers. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeShorten pleaded not guilty to raping a 19-year-old woman on June 26th, 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- courtA jury at the Central Criminal Court found Shorten guilty of two counts of rape and one of anal rape. (irishtimes.com)
- courtRaymond Shorten was sentenced to a total of 30 years in prison. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe criminal investigations were concluded before the courts on the day of the article. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtMr Justice Paul McDermott passed sentence. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtShorten did not give evidence at trial; two written statements he gave after his arrest were read to the jury. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtA jury found Shorten guilty in June. (dublinlive.ie)
- courtJudge Paul McDermott imposed the sentence. (dublinlive.ie)
- sentenceThe judge imposed nine years for one victim and eight years for the second. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe two sentences in this case will run consecutively. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceShorten's total expected term, including an earlier sentence, is 30 years before remission. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceRaymond Shorten was jailed for 30 years. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceShorten was jailed for 17 years. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceShorten was sentenced to a total of 17 years for the two taxi rapes. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe sentences for the two taxi rapes are to be served consecutively to the 13-year sentence for raping a child. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe judge set the rape sentences at 12 years and 11 years before reducing two of them to nine and eight years. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe court heard that Shorten will serve a total of 30 years in prison for all three offences. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceShorten was given a further 17 years in prison. (dublinlive.ie)
- sentenceShorten will serve 30 years in total. (dublinlive.ie)
- sentenceThe sentence for the rape of the second victim was set at 11 years. (dublinlive.ie)
- sentenceShorten was sentenced to 17 years for the rapes of two women. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe judge made all of Shorten's sentences consecutive to each other. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe 17-year sentence will not begin until Shorten completes a 13-year term for a separate rape of a seven-year-old girl. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceWith standard remission of 25 per cent, Shorten would be 72 years old on release. (irishtimes.com)
- otherShorten denied the rapes and said the interactions were consensual. (irishtimes.com)
- otherGardaí issued advice for people to plan their journey before taking a taxi. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherGarda Commissioner Drew Harris said Shorten likely attacked other women whose cases have not come to light. (irishtimes.com)
- otherShorten claimed the sexual activity with the women was consensual and initiated by them. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherShorten denied all charges and tried to discredit his victims. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherThe judge said Shorten was and is a danger to others. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherMinister McEntee promised to implement taxi licensing reform proposals as soon as possible. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 26 Jul2024McEntee vows to reform taxi licensing system in wake of Shorten rape sentencing
Reports the 17-year sentence for the 2022 taxi rapes, the consecutive sentences, the Garda Commissioner's comments on possible other victims, and the government response on taxi licensing reform.
convicted, Raymond Shorten, 50, male, named, irish (judged from name)Raymond Shortenvictim, 19, femalevictim, 20, female - 26 Jul2024Taxi rapist Raymond Shorten boasted to prison wardens he'd be free for the Euros
Reports the 17-year sentence for the two 2022 taxi rapes, the 30-year total, and the court's sentencing remarks. It also notes a separate 13-year sentence for a child rape, which is a different case and is not recorded as a fact here.
convicted, Raymond Shorten, 50, male, named, irish (judged from name)Raymond Shortenvictim, femalevictim, female - 25 Jul2024Top garda fears taxi rapist Raymond Shorten targeted other women
Covers the sentencing for the two taxi rapes of women in 2022 and the overall 30-year term. Mentions the 13-year sentence for the child rape as a separate earlier case. Gives two different dates for the second woman's attack (8 and 9 August 2022).
convicted, Raymond Shorten, 50, male, named, irish (judged from name)Raymond Shortenvictim, 19, femalevictim, 20, female - 25 Jul2024Rapist Raymond Shorten likely attacked other women, Garda Commissioner says
Sentencing report. The two incidents took place on June 25th and August 8th, 2022, so no single incident date is given. The article also mentions a separate 13-year sentence imposed earlier that week for raping a girl more than 10 years ago.
convicted, Raymond Shorten, 50, male, named, irish (judged from name)Raymond Shortenvictim, femalevictim, female - 25 Jul2024Gardai issue taxi safety advice as evil rapist Raymond Shorten jailed
Reports the sentence of 30 years imposed on Raymond Shorten and a Garda statement on revoking his taxi licence and on taxi safety.
convicted, Raymond Shorten, 50, male, named, irish (judged from name)Raymond Shortenvictim, femalevictim, female - 25 Jul2024‘A gross betrayal’: Taxi driver Raymond Shorten jailed for 17 years for rape of two young passengers
Sentencing at the Central Criminal Court after a jury convicted Shorten of two rapes and one anal rape. The article also mentions a separate 13-year sentence for raping a girl, which is not part of this case.
convicted, Raymond Shorten, 50, named, irish (judged from name)Raymond Shortenvictim, 19, femalevictim, 20, female