Courts / Dublin / Report

Jury finds teen not guilty of raping girl (15)

Summary

A jury at the Central Criminal Court found a 17‑year‑old boy not guilty of raping a 15‑year‑old girl in a public park. The boy claimed that after meeting the girl at a shopping centre, they kissed and she suggested they go to a nearby park where she proposed sex. He said he was physically unable to have penetrative sex but claimed the girl masturbated him. The girl, aged 16, testified that she was happy to kiss the boy but did not want to do anything else, and that he led her into bushes and forced her to have sex with him while she was too drunk to stop him. The trial lasted eight days and the jury deliberated for just under four hours before returning not‑guilty verdicts on both rape and sexual assault charges. The jury had to accept a majority verdict after the foreman noted they could not reach unanimity.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Jury finds teen not guilty of raping girl (15). Charges or matters: rape and sexual assault at a park in south Dublin on April 13, 2019. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• April 13, 2019 Incident
• 2020-12-10 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Sexual Offences Stage Trial Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report