Ireland Two Co Kildare men jailed for raping teenage girl in Kildare town
Patrick (aka PJ) Kelly, 22, and Joseph Byrne, 44, were involved in the rape of a 16-year-old girl in four locations in a Kildare town on one day between March and June 2020. Kelly pleaded guilty to three counts of rape, and Byrne, who had denied the charges, was convicted of five counts of rape, oral rape and anal rape. On 30 October 2024 at the Central Criminal Court, Justice Paul McDermott jailed the two men for a total of 26½ years, with Kelly receiving 13½ years, the final two suspended, and Byrne receiving 15 years plus a seven-year post-release supervision order. The 21-year-old victim read her impact statement by video link during the sentencing hearing.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced30 Oct
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Patrick (aka PJ) Kelly, 22, and Joseph Byrne, 44, were involved in the rape of a 16-year-old girl.
- Where
- The rapes took place in four different locations in a Kildare town.
- When
- The rapes occurred over one day on an unknown date between March 2020 and June 2020.
- Cause
- Kelly lured the girl into what was effectively a gang rape.
- Investigation
- The victim's taped interview of complaint to specialist gardaí was played for the jury during the trial.
- Charges
- Kelly pleaded guilty to three counts of rape at the Central Criminal Court.
- Byrne was convicted of two charges of rape, two charges of oral rape and one charge of anal rape, and he denied the charges before his conviction.
- In court
- The sentences were imposed by Justice Paul McDermott at the Central Criminal Court.
- Sentence
- The two men were jailed for a total of 26½ years.
- Kelly was sentenced to 13½ years, with the final two years suspended.
- Byrne was jailed for 15 years and placed under a seven-year post-release supervision order.
- The judge described the offence as shameful and callous and set a headline sentence of 16 years for both men.
- Other details
- The victim, now 21, read her impact statement by video link and described the men as the monsters in her dreams.
- The sentencing hearing took place on 30 October 2024.
13 statements extracted from the articles
- whereThe rapes took place in four different locations in a Kildare town. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe rapes occurred over one day on an unknown date between March 2020 and June 2020. (irishtimes.com)
- causeKelly lured the girl into what was effectively a gang rape. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeKelly pleaded guilty to three counts of rape. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeByrne was convicted of two charges of rape, two charges of oral rape and one charge of anal rape. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe sentences were imposed at the Central Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceTwo men were jailed for a total of 26½ years. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceKelly was sentenced to 13½ years, with the final two years suspended. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceByrne was jailed for 15 years. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceByrne was placed under a seven-year post-release supervision order. (irishtimes.com)
- otherByrne continued to deny the charges before he was convicted. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe victim read her impact statement via video link, describing the men as monsters in her dreams. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe judge described the offence as shameful and callous and set a headline sentence of 16 years for both men. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 30 Oct2024Two Co Kildare men jailed for rape of teenage girl in four different locations
Sentencing of Kelly and Byrne at the Central Criminal Court, including the victim's impact statement read by video link, Kelly's guilty plea, Byrne's convictions and sentences.
convicted, Patrick (aka PJ) Kelly, 22, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick (aka PJ) Kellyconvicted, Joseph Byrne, 44, male, named, irish (judged from name)Joseph Byrnevictim, 16, female