'I cried for hours and hours': Convicted rapist defiles Limerick girl, aged 14, in car park

***READER DISCRETION ADVISED***

A CONVICTED rapist defiled a 14-year-old girl who had run away from her home in a rural County Limerick town, the circuit court heard.

The accused, who cannot be named due to legal restrictions at this time, was found guilty at a trial by jury of one charge of defilement - engaging in a sexual act with a child under the age of 17. He was 35 at the time of the sexual offence in 2020.

In a victim impact statement, the now 19-year-old said the effects of the sexual acts hit her harder than a brick wall some time later and “something clicked”.

“I cried for hours and hours. I blamed myself for so long. I still think about it constantly and take it out on people who don’t deserve it,” she said in the statement.

READ MORE: “He said relax, relax,': Man alleges farmer raped him in County Limerick

Prosecuting barrister John O’Sullivan, instructed by State solicitor Padraig Mawe, outlined the evidence with the assistance of Sergeant Marie Hough.

Mr O’Sullivan said the offence occurred on July 11, 2020 when the victim was aged 14 and the accused, who is non-Irish, was 35.

“She ran away from her home in a rural part of County Limerick. She stayed in a friend’s house before ending up in hotels in Limerick with friends on July 8 and 9, 2020. 

“She met a Joseph Kiely who can be named as he has been sentenced (for two counts of defilement of the girl),” said Mr O’Sullivan.

The barrister said Kiely, aged 39, of Cosgrave Park, Moyross, Limerick, and the accused in this case did not know each other.

During the course of a Snapchat interaction Kiely proposed she enter into a sugar relationship with him, the court heard during a sentencing hearing in January.

They met  in a hotel on July 8, 2020, where they engaged in sexual intercourse in return for which Kiely gave her cigarettes and €80.

On the following day - July 9, 2020, they met in a different hotel where the victim performed oral sex on Kiely and he gave her €90. Kiely received a three-year jail sentence with the final year suspended.

Mr O’Sullivan said in the early hours of July 11, 2020  the victim, who was in a vulnerable position, wanted to return home.

“She encountered the accused who had a car. She asked him for a lift. He agreed to provide a lift providing she performed oral sex on him,” said Mr O’Sullivan.

The accused drove the victim to a car park where the sexual offence occurred. When he was arrested after the victim made a complaint he told gardai he was aware she was under 17, believing her to be 15.

Mr O’Sullivan read out the victim impact statement, on behalf of the girl, which details the effect the sexual crimes had on her mentally, physically, emotionally, on her education and the effect it had on her relationships.

She said she felt stupid that she allowed herself to get into that situation and was a let-down to everyone.

“I hated myself more than anyone because I blamed myself.

“I don't think it is fair that I missed out on so many opportunities because of something I had no control over,” said the teenage girl in her victim statement.  

Mr O’Sullivan said the accused (who was 35 at the time of the offence)  moved to Ireland in 2016 with his wife and child. He originally lived in Longford before moving to Limerick. He was jailed for 10 years last year for raping a woman in Limerick in 2019.  He also has previous convictions for possession of drugs, theft, possession of knives and trespass.

Lorcan Connolly SC, who represented the accused, said the rape conviction is subject of an appeal and his client has no other history of sexual offences. Mr Connolly said, in mitigation, that the defendant made certain admissions to gardai and accepts the verdict of the jury.

“He wishes to apologise to the injured party for his conduct,” said Mr Connolly,

Judge Colin Daly said he wished to consider matters and adjourned sentencing.