Man jailed for raping friend with carrot after marriage breakdown
Sonya McLean
A woman who woke up to find her friend sexually assaulting her with a carrot has said her life has spiralled out of control since.
The woman was a close friend of the 63-year-old man following the breakdown of her marriage. She said the man was aware that she was in a vulnerable position.
The man, who has previous convictions for rape and sexual assault, pleaded guilty to raping the woman with an object in his home on dates between September and October 2023.
On Monday, Ms Justice Eileen Creedon imposed a six-year sentence. She suspended the final two years of that term on strict conditions, including that he engage with the Probation Service for two years.
A local garda told Diana Stuart SC, prosecuting, at an earlier hearing last October, that the accused was a good friend of the woman’s father. He said their friendship developed when her marriage broke down, and she would often go drinking in his home. She would usually sleep in his bed on such nights, and the man would sleep on the couch.
The court heard that while they were close friends and spent a lot of time in each other’s company, there was never any sexual or physical element to their companionship.
On this particular night, the woman went to the man’s bed to sleep as she felt she had enough to drink. She later woke up to find the accused raping her with the carrot. She pushed him off her and asked him what he had been doing.
The man ran out of the room, but the woman followed him into the kitchen, where he continually said sorry.
He was later arrested and answered all questions in the following garda interview. It was accepted that he was “upfront and honest” and there was never any suggestion that he would elect to go for trial.
The woman’s victim impact statement said the rape impacted her “tremendously”, and her life has since spiralled out of control. She has started drinking more, which she said she needs to help her “block out” the incident.
The detective accepted a suggestion from Colman Cody SC, defending, that this was an early plea and that the man always maintained that he would make full admissions.
He agreed that the woman felt sorry for the accused and that she continued to stay in contact with him after the rape.
The detective further accepted that the man completely cooperated with the garda investigation and that this has been coupled with “admissions and genuine remorse”.
Mr Cody said his client has multiple health issues, including issues with mental health and addiction. The man had written a letter of apology to the woman.
Counsel said his client is willing to engage in any services made available to him to assist him in his rehabilitation.
Ms Justice Creedon said that the man knew the woman was in “a vulnerable position and took advantage of that”.
She said his background of sexual offences, relating to both a child and an adult victim, was “concerning” and noted that he has been considered to be at “a high risk of re-offending”.
The judge noted, however, that the man is willing to engage with the Probation Service.
She also took into account that he pleaded guilty and offered an immediate apology to the woman. She acknowledged that he had written a letter of apology, but noted that the woman is not willing to accept this letter.
The man has also been diagnosed as having alcohol abuse disorder, ADHD, depressive disorder, chronic heart disease and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
Ms Justice Creedon set a headline sentence of nine years, which she reduced to six years, considering the various mitigating factors. She then suspended the final two years of that six-year term.
