A GALWAY man who raped a 14 year old boy after a cannabis smoking session and then gave the victim his car and his phone number has been jailed for six years by the Central Criminal Court.
Alan McNeill was previously convicted of rape in Britain and spent four years in jail. He also had a number of convictions for burglary.
Defence counsel Mr Padraig O hUiginn SC said McNeill seemed to want to be caught for the Galway rape as he had left so many "markers" to identify himself. He was crying out for help and recently made very serious attempts to cut off his penis.
Mr O hUiginn (with Ms Sharon Long) said his client had been assessed as suffering from a personality disorder, but was not mentally ill. McNeill came from a very troubled background. As a child he had been physically abused by his father, who used a hot poker on his buttocks.
He had spent 20 years in care as a child or in prison and didn't have much chance in life. While in care, he had been both physically and sexually abused, including buggery, Mr O hUiginn said.
McNeill (29), of Rahoon Park, Galway, pleaded guilty to raping the victim on May 13th, 1995. He also admitted possessing an air pistol at his home four days earlier.
Mr Justice Kinlen jailed McNeill for six years on the rape charge and a concurrent two year term for the firearms offence.
Det Garda Anthony Reedy said the victim and a friend had hitch hiked into Galway city to see a film. On their way home, McNeill stopped in his car and offered them a lift, telling them his name was Alan".
They got into the car and a conversation developed about cars and drugs. McNeill drove them to various locations, at one stage dropping them at a fast food outlet because he claimed he had to pick up his wife and child.
He bought cannabis and went back to the boys. He then drove them to an isolated shed down a country road where he stopped. They went into the shed and he rolled cannabis joints which they all smoked.
The detective told prosecuting counsel Ms Maureen Clark SC (with Mr Conor Devalley), that McNeill later told gardai he took the victim to his vehicle, leaving the second boy in the shed.
McNeill initially told the victim he could have his car for £50 if he showed him his "privates". He then told the boy to get into the back of the vehicle and when the victim resisted, McNeill grabbed him and said: "We can do this the easy way or the hard way" before raping him.
Afterwards he drove the two boys to a place near their homes before handing over the car and the logbook. He also gave them a cigarette box with his telephone number on it.
The victim told his mother and she called in the gardai. He was able to identify McNeill from photographs.
Det Garda Reedy said four days prior to the rape McNeill's home had been searched and an air pistol as well as stolen rings were found. He was charged and then released on bail.