'You're going to pay for this': supporters of convicted rapists shout at victim in court

Two men from Leitrim have been sentenced to seven years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court following their conviction for the rape of a woman who was intoxicated at a house party in 2017. A jury found the first man guilty of rape in November last year, while the second man was convicted of oral rape. The second man has indicated his intention to appeal. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon imposed the sentences this morning, noting that the victim was vulnerable due to intoxication and that the men had exploited this vulnerability. The judge observed that both defendants continue to deny the offences and have demonstrated no remorse or empathy for the harm caused. The final year of each eight-year sentence was suspended on condition of engagement with sexual offending assessments and treatment programmes. The men, who are in their early twenties and knew the complainant from school, cannot be identified to protect the victim's anonymity. During sentencing, supporters of the accused made hostile remarks towards the victim outside the courtroom.