Romanian man jailed for 11 years for raping woman in Balbriggan home after posing as taxi driver
Costel Raducan, a 37-year-old Romanian man from Balbriggan, Co Dublin, was sentenced on 19 June 2026 to 12 years' imprisonment with the final year suspended for three after a Central Criminal Court jury convicted him of burglary, rape and attempted anal rape. On 3 May 2025, he posed as a taxi driver, drove an unnamed woman home, then stalked the house for an estimated three and a half hours before pushing her face into a pillow and raping her. DNA evidence linking his semen to the crime and a large CCTV trawl led to his arrest; he initially denied any interaction with the victim before later claiming she had invited him in and consented. He continues to deny the offences and does not accept the jury verdicts.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced19 Jun
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Costel Raducan, 37, a Romanian national who has lived in Ireland since 2018, lives on High Street, Balbriggan.
- He posed as a taxi driver, drove an unnamed woman home, and stalked the house for an estimated three and a half hours until she was alone.
- He pushed her face down into a pillow on the bed and raped her, and attempted anal rape.
- When
- The offences were committed on 3 May 2025.
- Where
- A home in Balbriggan, Co Dublin.
- Investigation
- DNA evidence linked his semen to the crime, and a large trawl of CCTV footage led to his arrest.
- Charges
- He was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury of burglary, rape and attempted anal rape.
- In court
- Judge Paul Burns noted a significant degree of premeditation and little in the way of mitigating factors.
- Sentence
- He was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment with the final year suspended for three years.
- Other details
- He initially denied any interaction with the victim, later claimed she had invited him in and consented, and continues to deny the offences and does not accept the jury verdicts.
- The victim experienced fear and panic attacks, had to take time off work which impacted her career progression, and said she will never feel fully safe again.
17 statements extracted from the articles
- whatCostel Raducan, 37, lives on High Street, Balbriggan (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe drove her home and stalked the house until she was alone (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe remained outside the house for an estimated three and a half hours (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe pushed her face down into the pillow on the bed and raped her (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe initially denied any interaction with the victim and claimed he was at home (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe later claimed the woman had invited him into her home and consented to sex (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe is a Romanian national who has lived in Ireland since 2018 (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe continues to deny the offences and does not accept the jury verdicts (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe victim continued to experience fear and panic attacks after the attack (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe victim had to take time off work which impacted her career progression (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe victim said being raped in her own home left her traumatised and she will never feel fully safe again (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe offences were committed on 3 May 2025 (irishtimes.com)
- investigationDNA evidence linked his semen to the crime (irishtimes.com)
- courtHe was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury of burglary, rape and attempted anal rape (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Paul Burns passed sentence (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge noted a significant degree of premeditation and little in the way of mitigating factors (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceHe was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment with the final year suspended for three years (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 19 Jun2026Man posing as taxi driver who raped woman he brought home sentenced to 11 years
Reports the sentencing of Costel Raducan to 12 years (final year suspended for three) for rape, attempted anal rape and burglary after posing as a taxi driver. Includes details of the investigation, the victim's impact statement, and the judge's comments on premeditation.
suspect, Costel Raducan, 37, male, Romanian, named, non-irishCostel Raducanvictim, female