Teenager who raped girl in Wexford is sentenced

A schoolboy who raped a teenage girl in a field two years ago has received a sentence of five years’ detention.

After repeatedly raping the teenager, the then 14-year-old told her she had to have sex with his older brother, then aged 17. The attacks took place at night in a field near a holiday caravan park in Wexford, in front of a group of about seven other boys.

The two brothers pleaded guilty in May 2021 to raping the girl. The older brother, now 19, cannot be named because that would identify his brother who is a juvenile.

At the Central Criminal Court, Justice Paul McDermott said the victim was preyed on and the “terrifying and violent” experience continues to have a pervasive effect on her life.

He noted as aggravating factors her young age, the threats of violence used by the younger boy prior to the rapes and the humiliating public nature of the assaults. Both defendants knew the girl was in a distressed and vulnerable state and was not consenting to sex.

He said a significant mitigating factor for the younger accused was his youth at the time and now. This type of serious offending in a person of this young age was unusual, he said.

He noted the boy was attending school and hopes to complete his Leaving Cert.

Despite the boy’s expressions of regret and shame in a Probation Service report, there was a low level of empathy for the victim.

The judge said the boy suggested that “he had a confused understanding of consent and minimised the seriousness of the offence”.

He was not satisfied that the boy appreciated the appalling personal damage caused by his actions and imposed a detention order of five years. He sentenced the older defendant to seven-and-a-half years with 18 months suspended, noting there was some remorse and regret on his part for his actions.

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article you can contact the national 24-hour rape crisis helpline: 1800 778888