A Kildare businessman has been found guilty by a jury of raping a then 17-year-old woman in 1999, after the two had been drinking and smoking cannabis.
Joseph Kemmy (52), of Moorefield Drive, Droichead Nua, was convicted on the fifth day of his trial at the Central Criminal Court by a unanimous verdict of the jury.
He was remanded in custody for mention of the case on January 15th.
The jury of eight men and four women requested Mr Justice Herbert, shortly after returning to the court, to review the evidence, beginning with the victim's testimony. Kemmy, married with three children, was found guilty of raping and sexually assaulting the woman at his home on September 23rd, 1999.
Mr Justice Herbert rejected an application by defence counsel Mr Erwin Mill-Arden SC that Kemmy be granted bail until the January 15th hearing. Garda Thomas McTigue had objected to Kemmy being granted even substantial bail with conditions because he believed he would not appear for sentence.
Kemmy said he was managing director of a London-based family business which would have to be wound down if he was put into custody, as nobody else had the expertise to run the company.
The woman told the jury she had been drinking with Kemmy and another man that night and had smoked cannabis.
Kemmy said he had consensual sex with the woman and that he didn't know why she was making the allegation.