Courts / Ireland / Report
Autistic teen with "sad upbringing" gets suspended sentence for raping boy
Summary
An 18-year-old male, convicted in 2016 of one count of anal rape and two counts of sexual assault committed in July 2015 when he was 16, was sentenced today by Mr Justice Coffey in the Central Criminal Court. The court heard the accused, who was diagnosed with ADHD and is on the autism spectrum, had a difficult upbringing. During the trial, he claimed the incidents were consensual. Following a one-year deferral of sentence to allow for a multi-agency care plan, the judge imposed a three-year prison term today. This sentence was suspended on strict conditions, including that the accused must return to court in one year for review. The judge noted that while multi-agency supports were producing desired results, the case could not be definitively finalised. Additional conditions prohibit the use of intoxicants, require no contact with the injured parties or their families, and mandate compliance with Probation Service directions and all recommended treatments. The judge reserved the right to re-enter the case in January 2019 if conditions are breached. The victims, who were 13 at the time, remain in counselling. The accused also made three allegations of being abused himself, one of which remains under investigation.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Autistic teen with "sad upbringing" gets suspended sentence for raping boy. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted
When:
- July 2015 Incident
- January 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2018-01-15 Publication
Why: A local garda told the court that the abuse came to light because the accused was telling other children that he "had sex" with the boys. CNI source report
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; A teenager who raped one 13-year-old boy and sexually assaulted another has received a suspended sentence on condition he continue to engage with multidisciplinary supports and treatment. Today Mr Justice Coffey imposed a three year sentence which he suspended on strict conditions including that the boy should return before the court in one year's time for review.
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
Topics
Sexual Offences Stage Sentence Violent Crime
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