Ireland Case No. 6095Rape · Co. Dublin · 11 Jun 2018
Robert Fennell jailed for 10 years for raping 16-year-old girl
On June 11, 2018, Robert Fennell, a man then aged 50, raped a 16-year-old girl at his home in Woodview Cottages, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14, after she had come to him seeking advice and he had given her alcohol. Gardaí were alerted and interviewed him, and he initially claimed it was a set up. He later pleaded guilty to the rape at a late stage, and the Central Criminal Court heard the plea was valuable but late. On April 15, 2024, Mr Justice Paul McDermott jailed Fennell, now 56, for 10 years, with the last year suspended for two years on strict conditions.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced15 Apr
2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Robert Fennell raped a vulnerable 16-year-old girl who had come to him seeking advice.
- Cause
- Fennell gave the girl alcohol before she woke up to find him raping her.
- Where
- The rape took place at Fennell's home at Woodview Cottages, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14.
- When
- The rape took place on June 11, 2018, when Fennell was 50.
- Other details
- Fennell had contacted the girl on social media through a person she believed was a 17-year-old boy, though Fennell denied making the initial contact.
- Fennell has 28 previous convictions, mainly for road traffic offences.
- The girl said she had since moved because she was so terrified by what occurred, and Fennell's defence counsel said he wished to offer a full apology.
- Investigation
- Gardaí were alerted and interviewed Fennell, who initially claimed it was a set up.
- Charges
- Fennell pleaded guilty to raping the girl at his home.
- In court
- The guilty plea was entered at a late stage, and the judge said it was valuable but late.
- The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court, where the judge said Fennell had taken advantage of the teenager's naivety and vulnerability.
- Sentence
- The judge set a headline sentence of 12 years and reduced it to 11 years after mitigation.
- Fennell was jailed for 10 years on April 15, 2024, with the last year suspended for two years on strict conditions.
- The suspension conditions include assessment for offence-focused work, addiction treatment and drug monitoring, and Fennell is barred from unsupervised access to children.
29 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe man raped a vulnerable 16-year-old girl who had come to him seeking advice. (irishtimes.com)
- whatFennell gave the girl alcohol before she woke up to find him raping her. (irishtimes.com)
- whatA man raped a 16-year-old girl who had come to him seeking advice. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe rape took place at Fennell's home. (irishtimes.com)
- whereFennell is of Woodview Cottages, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe rape took place on June 11th, 2018. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe rape took place at Fennell's home on June 11, 2018. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeFennell gave the girl alcohol before the rape. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí were alerted and Fennell was interviewed. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí were alerted and interviewed Fennell, who initially claimed it was a set up. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtFennell pleaded guilty to raping the girl. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe case was heard at the Central Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe judge said Fennell had taken advantage of the teenager's naivety and vulnerability. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe guilty plea was entered at a late stage. (irishtimes.com)
- courtFennell pleaded guilty to the rape. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe judge said the guilty plea was valuable but entered at a late stage. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceFennell was jailed for 10 years. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of 12 years and reduced it to 11 years. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe last year of the sentence was suspended for two years on strict conditions. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceFennell was ordered to have no unsupervised access to children. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of 12 years and reduced it to 11 years after mitigation. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceFennell was jailed for 10 years, with the last year suspended for two years. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe suspended year is subject to conditions including assessment for offence-focused work, addiction treatment and drug monitoring. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceFennell is barred from unsupervised access to children. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherFennell has 28 previous convictions, mainly for road traffic offences. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- otherFennell denied making the initial social media contact with the girl. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe girl said she had since moved because she was so terrified by what occurred. (irishtimes.com)
- otherFennell's defence counsel said he wished to offer a full apology. (irishtimes.com)
- otherFennell had contacted the girl through a person she believed was a 17-year-old boy on social media. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 15 Apr2024Man jailed for raping 16-year-old girl who came to him seeking advice
Sentencing report for a case not in the existing list. Adds the sentence, the judge's reasoning on a late guilty plea, the suspended year and the conditions, and Fennell's previous convictions.
convicted, Robert Fennell, 56, male, named, irish (judged from name)Robert Fennellvictim, 16, female - 15 Apr2024Man (50) raped vulnerable teenage girl after she came to him seeking advice
Reports the sentencing at the Central Criminal Court of Robert Fennell for raping a 16-year-old girl in June 2018. Sets out the headline sentence, the suspended portion, the guilty plea and the victim impact statement.
victim, 16, femaleconvicted, Robert Fennell, 56, male, named, irish (judged from name)Robert Fennell