Man is jailed for rape in laneway of Mayo town

A 27-year-old man who raped a woman in a laneway of a Mayo town just over two years ago was sentenced to eight years in prison – with two years suspended – at the Central Criminal Court today.

The accused, who cannot be named to protect his victim's identity, made full admissions to gardai and entered a plea at an early stage.

An earlier court hearing was told that the accused met his victim, whom he knew, in a pub before later coaxing her into a laneway when he then became violent, forcing her down steps in a very aggressive manner.

The accused then told his victim he had a blade and would use it if she did not do what he wanted. After forcing the woman to engage in a sexual act and then raping her the accused then threatened to slash her throat if she told anyone.

Imposing sentence, Mr. Justice Paul Butler described the offence as in the mid-scale of severity given that the victim had been threatened with a blade if she did not do what her attacker wanted.