Saturday 31 October 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. 17950Rape · 22 Apr 2017

Two men fail to overturn 11-year sentences for rape of teenage girl

Two men, now aged 29 and 28, were convicted at the Central Criminal Court in November 2021 of the gang-rape of a 14-year-old girl at an outdoor location in the southwest on 22 April 2017. The 29-year-old was convicted of rape, and the 28-year-old of rape and sexual assault; both had denied the offences. In May 2022 the trial judge gave both men 11-year jail sentences, and the men appealed, arguing the 13-year headline sentence was too high and too little discount was given for mitigation. In March 2024 the Court of Appeal dismissed both appeals, finding the trial judge had correctly chosen the 13-year headline sentence.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court11 Mar
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Two men were convicted of the gang-rape of a 14-year-old girl.
Where
The offence took place at an outdoor location in the southwest.
When
The rapes took place on the night of 22 April 2017, when the girl was reportedly comatose with alcohol.
Charges
  • The 29-year-old was convicted of a single count of rape.
  • The 28-year-old was convicted of rape and an additional charge of sexual assault.
In court
  • Both men were tried at the Central Criminal Court and convicted in November 2021, and both had denied the offences.
  • The men appealed, arguing that the 13-year headline sentence was too high and that too little discount was given for mitigation.
  • The Court of Appeal sat in Cork City to hear the appeal.
  • The appeal court found the trial judge had correctly chosen a 13-year headline sentence and dismissed both appeals, as reported on 11 March 2024.
Sentence
  • In May 2022 the trial judge gave both men 11-year jail sentences and described the crime as cynical, calculated and egregious, with very little mitigation.
  • The 28-year-old received eight years for sexual assault, to run concurrently with the rape sentence.
Other details
  • The key facts name Mr Justice John Edwards as dismissing the appeals, while the article's caption attributes the 'cynical, calculated and egregious' description to Ms Justice Eileen Creedon.
  • The men cannot be named to protect the complainant's anonymity.
15 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatTwo men convicted of gang-rape of a 14-year-old girl appealed their sentences. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whereThe offence took place at an outdoor location in the southwest. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whenThe rapes took place on the night of 22 April 2017. (limerickleader.ie)
  • chargeThe 29-year-old was convicted on the single count of rape. (limerickleader.ie)
  • chargeThe 28-year-old was convicted of rape and an additional charge of sexual assault. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtThe men were convicted after a trial at the Central Criminal Court in November 2021. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtThe men appealed, arguing that a 13-year headline sentence was too high and that too little discount was given for mitigation. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtThe Court of Appeal sat in Cork City to hear the appeal. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtThe appeal court found the trial judge had correctly chosen a 13-year headline sentence. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtMr Justice John Edwards dismissed the appeals. (limerickleader.ie)
  • sentenceWhen passing sentence in May 2022, the trial judge described the crime as cynical, calculated and egregious. (limerickleader.ie)
  • sentenceThe two men were given 11-year jail sentences. (limerickleader.ie)
  • sentenceThe 28-year-old received eight years for sexual assault, to run concurrently with the rape charge. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherThe judge said there was very little mitigation for the two men, who denied the offences. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherThe men cannot be named to protect the complainant's anonymity. (limerickleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 11 Mar2024
    In courtlimerickleader.ie, first report
    Two men jailed for the 'gang-rape' of a child fail in sentence appeals

    Report of the Court of Appeal dismissing both men's sentence appeals, with the court's reasoning. The location is given only as an outdoor place in the southwest, and the men cannot be named.

    victim, 14, femaleconvicted, 29, maleconvicted, 28, male