Wednesday 28 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. 3279Civil action (reporting restrictions, costs) · Co. Dublin · 21 Apr 2026

UCD student who sued over post-rape study issue refused costs in anonymity order dispute

A medicine student who alleged she was raped by a fellow UCD student and subsequently sued the university for failing to make adequate allowances was refused an award of legal costs by Judge Marguerite Bolger in connection with UCD's successful application to vary the anonymity order in her High Court action. Her appeal against the dismissal of the action is scheduled for the Court of Appeal on 21 July 2026.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court3 Apr
    2 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
11 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe woman alleged she was raped by a fellow UCD student in February 2023. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatShe missed two summer exams in May 2023 and failed others due to issues arising from the alleged assault. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatUCD reported to gardaí that a graphic photo of the woman was received by more than 170 academic staff and students on the evening of 22 April 2025. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe emails containing the photo were sent from anonymous, encrypted Proton addresses. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe student is a medicine student who claimed she was raped by a fellow student (irishtimes.com)
  • whatUniversity lawyers submitted the student was in contact with Coppinger before her case was raised in the Dáil and was in contact with media outlets (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeImage-based sexual abuse is a crime under the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020, and a Garda investigation continues. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe appeal is scheduled to be heard by the three-judge Court of Appeal on 21 July 2026. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe student was refused an award of legal costs in an application dealing with reporting restrictions in her High Court action against UCD (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe student has appealed the dismissal of her action and the appeal is scheduled for the Court of Appeal on 21 July (irishtimes.com)
  • courtUCD secured a variation on the anonymity order allowing it to be identified and to comment on the case (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 21 Apr2026
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Student who sued UCD on study issue after alleged rape loses bid for costs

    Reports Judge Marguerite Bolger's refusal to award costs to the student in UCD's motion to vary the anonymity order, and notes the student's appeal against dismissal is set for 21 July 2026.

    victim, female
  2. 3 Apr2026
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Hearing set for student’s appeal over how UCD dealt with her studies after alleged rape

    Provides the Court of Appeal hearing date (21 July 2026), details of the image-based sexual abuse (photo shared with 170+ staff/students via Proton addresses and a 300-member WhatsApp group), the woman's account of the February 2023 rape and its impact on her May 2023 exams, and Judge Bolger's February findings that UCD's solutions were 'entirely lawful and proper'.

    victim, femalesuspect