Woman raped by partner declined counselling as notes could be used against her at trial

A man from Letterkenny, County Donegal, has been sentenced to ten years in prison following his conviction on charges of rape. The Central Criminal Court in Castlebar, County Mayo, heard that the offences occurred between September 2017 and July 2018. The accused was found guilty of two counts of anal rape and one count of vaginal rape of his then partner. During sentencing, Justice Patrick McGrath noted the serious breach of trust involved, describing the attacks as premeditated. The victim, who waived her anonymity, delivered an impact statement to the court detailing the profound effects of the offences. She revealed that she had declined counselling following the rapes, fearing her notes could be used against her during trial proceedings. The sentence was backdated to the date the accused entered custody following his conviction in November.