Sunday 1 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. 21793Rape; sexual assault; oral rape · Co. Laois · 20 Dec 2017

Three men on trial for rape at hotel car park in Laois

A 17-year-old woman alleges she was raped by three men in a car at a hotel car park in Laois on 20 December 2017. The three defendants, aged 22, 23 and 22, pleaded not guilty to charges including rape, oral rape and sexual assault. A security guard testified he saw the group in the car park, and forensic DNA analysis linked the second and third defendants to semen samples found on the complainant's clothing and in the car seats. The trial is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court before Ms Justice Melanie Greally and a jury.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court21 Mar
    3 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
A 17-year-old woman alleges she was raped by three men in a car at a hotel car park.
Where
The alleged offences took place at a hotel car park in Laois.
When
The alleged offences occurred on 20 December 2017.
Investigation
  • A security guard on patrol saw four people in two cars, told them to leave, and later gave evidence at trial.
  • Forensic DNA analysis matched the second and third defendants to semen samples found on the complainant's clothing and on the car seats.
Charges
  • The first defendant, aged 22, pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault.
  • The second defendant, aged 23, pleaded not guilty to rape, oral rape and two counts of sexual assault.
  • The third defendant, aged 22, pleaded not guilty to rape and oral rape.
In court
The trial is being heard at the Central Criminal Court before Ms Justice Melanie Greally and a jury.
Other details
The complainant told her mother what happened two days after the incident and identified three men using social media photos.
32 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA security guard on patrol saw four people, three males and one assumed female, in two cars in the overflow car park. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe security guard saw a partially-dressed male in the passenger seat and what he assumed to be a partially-dressed female engaged in sexual activity. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe complainant told her mother what had happened two days after the incident. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatA friend of the complainant said the complainant told her she had been raped by three men and seemed scared and in shock. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe security guard saw four people, three males and one person he assumed was female, in two cars in the overflow car park. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatThe security guard spoke to a man getting dressed in the driver's seat and told them to leave the area. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatThe complainant told her mother what had happened two days later. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatA friend of the complainant received a message on social media asking her to keep an eye on the complainant's location. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatThe complainant told her friend during a walk that she had been raped by three men. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatThe complainant's mother gave two bags of clothing to gardaí, including a pair of jeans and a jacket. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatThe complainant sent photos of three men she identified using social media. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereThe alleged rape took place at a hotel car park in the Leinster area (thejournal.ie)
  • whereThe alleged offences took place at a hotel car park in the Leinster area. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereThe offences occurred at a hotel car park in the Leinster area. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe alleged offences occurred on 20 December 2017 (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe offences are alleged to have occurred on 20 December 2017. (thejournal.ie, leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationA forensic examiner from Forensic Science Ireland examined the complainant's clothing and found that DNA analysis of semen samples from two items matched the second and third defendants. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationSemen samples were taken from the fabric of the front passenger seat and the rear passenger seat of the car. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationThe second defendant's DNA was identified in the front passenger seat sample. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationThe third defendant's DNA was found on the rear passenger seat sample. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationThe forensic examiner said she couldn't say when the semen was deposited on the seats. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargeThe first defendant, aged 22, pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault (thejournal.ie, leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargeThe second defendant, aged 23, pleaded not guilty to rape, oral rape and two counts of sexual assault (thejournal.ie, leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargeThe third defendant, aged 22, pleaded not guilty to rape and oral rape (thejournal.ie, leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThe trial is being heard at the Central Criminal Court (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe trial is presided over by Ms Justice Melanie Greally with a jury (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe trial is being heard before Ms Justice Melanie Greally and a jury at the Central Criminal Court. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtAlice Fawsitt SC is prosecuting the case. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe trial is taking place at the Central Criminal Court before Ms Justice Melanie Greally and a jury. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe complainant was aged 17 at the time of the alleged offences (thejournal.ie, leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe complainant said she got in the car to stay with her friend (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe complainant said she got out of the car and walked away at the hotel car park (thejournal.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 23 Mar2023
    In courtleinsterexpress.ie, its first report
    Security guard tells Leinster rape trial of people apparently having sex in car

    Reports on evidence given at the trial including testimony from a security guard who saw people in a car, the complainant's mother and a friend's accounts, and forensic evidence linking the second and third defendants' DNA to semen on the complainant's clothing and in the car's seats.

    victim, 17, femaleaccused, 22, maleaccused, 23, maleaccused, 22, male
  2. 23 Mar2023
    In courtthejournal.ie, follow-up
    Security guard gives evidence in trial of men accused of rape in car park

    Reports evidence given at trial on 23 March 2023, including testimony from a security guard who saw the parties in the car park, the complainant's mother, a friend of the complainant, and a forensic examiner who confirmed DNA matches linking the second and third defendants to semen samples found on the complainant's clothing and in the car.

    victim, 17, femaleaccused, 22, maleaccused, 23, maleaccused, 22, male
  3. 21 Mar2023
    In courtthejournal.ie, first report
    Woman allegedly raped by three men in car park tells trial she didn't think she'd 'have to shout no'

    Day 6 of trial; complainant cross-examined by defence counsel Garnet Orange SC (second defendant) and Michael O'Higgins (first defendant); trial continues before Ms Justice Melanie Greally and a jury.

    victim, 17, femaleaccused, 22, maleaccused, 23, maleaccused, 22, male