Case No. 2091Rape, sexual assault, aiding and abetting, false imprisonment · Co. Limerick · 26 Dec 2022
Teenage girl alleges rape by two boys at Limerick racecourse, trial at Central Criminal Court in Cork
A 16-year-old girl alleges that two boys, aged 13 and 15 at the time, raped and sexually assaulted her in a car at Limerick racecourse in Patrickswell, Co Limerick, on 26 December 2022 during a St Stephen's Day race meeting. A third teenager, aged 15 at the time, is charged with aiding and abetting the two youths in the sexual assault and rape and with falsely imprisoning the girl. A complaint of rape was made at Henry Street Garda Station the same evening. The trial opened on 11 March 2025 before Mr Justice Paul McDermott at a sitting of the Central Criminal Court in Cork, where all three young men entered not guilty pleas and the case is expected to last up to three weeks.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court11 Mar
3 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A 16-year-old girl alleges two boys, aged 13 and 15 at the time, raped and sexually assaulted her in a car at Limerick racecourse.
- A third teenager, aged 15 at the time, is charged with aiding and abetting the two youths in the sexual assault and rape and with falsely imprisoning the girl.
- Where
- The alleged offence took place in a car at Limerick racecourse in Patrickswell, Co Limerick.
- When
- The incident occurred on 26 December 2022 during a St Stephen's Day race meeting.
- Investigation
- The complainant arrived at Henry Street Garda Station at 8.30pm on 26 December 2022 with her parents and a complaint of rape was made.
- Charges
- The two main accused face charges of rape and sexual assault, while the third faces aiding and abetting and false imprisonment.
- In court
- The trial opened on 11 March 2025 before Mr Justice Paul McDermott at a sitting of the Central Criminal Court in Cork, with a jury of nine women and three men.
- All three young men entered not guilty pleas and the case is expected to last up to three weeks.
- Other details
- The complainant was 16 at the time and is now 18; the two main accused were 13 and 15 at the time and are now 15 and 17; the third accused was 15 at the time and is now 17.
- The 15-year-old's defence maintained the complainant had initiated the sexual contact and taken off her own underwear.
37 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe two main accused are now 15 and 17 years old. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe girl went to a friend's house to get dressed for the races. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe three accused youths were at the racecourse and met the complainant for the first time that day. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe group left the pavilion area to go to a car park in a field area. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe intercourse and sexualised touching allegedly took place in a car and was not consensual. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whatThe two main accused are now 15 and 17. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe girl went to a friend's house on 26 December 2022 to get dressed for the races. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe friends got a taxi to Patrickswell. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe three accused youths were at the racecourse on the day of the alleged offence. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe teenagers met the complainant for the first time that day. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThey left the pavilion area to go to a car park in a field area. (irishtimes.com)
- whatA complaint of rape was made and the parents signed a consent form for the complainant's attendance at the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe girl alleges the 13-year-old took his pants down in the car and had sex with her without her consent. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe girl told the 13-year-old she was having her period and suggested going back to her friends. (irishtimes.com)
- whatA third teenager is charged with aiding and abetting the two youths to commit sexual assault and rape, and with falsely imprisoning the girl. (irishtimes.com)
- whatAll three young men entered not guilty pleas. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe girl met the boys for the first time on the date of the alleged offence when she went to the racecourse with her friends. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe girl had agreed to get into a car in the car park. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe 15-year-old's defence maintained the complainant had initiated the sexual contact and taken off her own underwear. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe girl said she had not consented to anyone taking off her clothes. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe alleged offence took place in a car at Limerick racecourse in Patrickswell, Co Limerick. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe alleged offence took place at Limerick racecourse in Patrickswell, Co Limerick. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe incident occurred on 26 December 2022. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whenThe alleged events occurred over a period of between 20 and 40 minutes in the middle of the afternoon. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe alleged events occurred over a period of between twenty and forty minutes in the middle of the afternoon. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe alleged offence occurred on 26 December 2022 at a Christmas race meeting. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe complainant arrived at Henry Street Garda Station at 8.30pm on 26 December 2022 in the presence of her parents and a complaint of rape was made. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe parents signed a consent form to facilitate the complainant's attendance at the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeA third teenager, now 17 but 15 at the time, is charged with aiding and abetting the two youths to commit sexual assault and rape. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe third defendant also faces a charge of falsely imprisoning the girl. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- courtThe case opened before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of nine women and three men. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- courtProsecution Senior Counsel Dean Kelly gave the jury a brief outline of the expected evidence. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe case is expected to last up to three weeks. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- courtProsecution Senior Counsel Dean Kelly gave the jury a brief outline of the evidence. (irishtimes.com)
- courtGarda Amanda Ryan of Henry Street Garda station gave evidence that the complainant arrived at the station at 8.30pm on 26 December 2022 in the presence of her parents. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial is at a sitting of the Central Criminal Court in Cork before Mr Justice Paul McDermott, with a jury of nine women and three men, and is expected to last three weeks. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe girl was 16 at the time of the alleged offence and is now 18. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 13 Mar2025Teenage girl claims two boys (13 and 15) raped her in car at Limerick race course
Cross-examination of the complainant by videolink; defence arguments on consent; trial before Mr Justice Paul McDermott expected to last three weeks.
victim, 18, femaleaccused, 15, maleaccused, 17, maleaccused, 17, male - 11 Mar2025Two teenage boys go on trial accused of raping 16-year-old girl at St Stephen’s Day race meeting
Details the opening of the trial before Mr Justice Paul McDermott, including the prosecution's outline of evidence, the complainant's arrival at Henry Street Garda station at 8.30pm on the night of the offence, and the expected trial duration of up to three weeks.
victim, 16, femaleaccused, 13, maleaccused, 15, maleaccused, 15, male - 11 Mar2025Two boys go on trial for alleged rape of girl in car at horseracing meet
Trial opened on 11 March 2025 before Mr Justice Paul McDermott; prosecution outlined evidence; case expected to last up to three weeks.
victim, 16, femalesuspect, 13, malesuspect, 15, malesuspect, 15, male