'It was like barbed wire': Farmer found guilty of raping man twice in Limerick

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A MARRIED Cork farmer was found guilty of raping a man on two separate occasions in County Limerick, in a unanimous verdict by a jury.

Thomas “Tossy” Nyhan, aged 64, of Crookstown, County Cork, can be named for the first time, after a judge lifted reporting restrictions last Friday at the conclusion of an  11-day trial at the Central Criminal Court, sitting in Mulgrave Street in Limerick city.

The accused, represented by Liam Carroll BL and Mark Nicholas SC, denied two counts of anal rape of the victim at a location in County Limerick, on dates in January 2011 and in April 2019.

Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring ordered that no details be reported which might lead to the identification of the victim.

READ MORE: 'A boy has got to do what a boy has got to do': Limerick rapist told teenage victim

The rape allegations were outlined in court by prosecuting senior counsel Fionnuala O’Sullivan and prosecuting barrister Lily Buckley BL, instructed by Aoife O’Halloran, Chief State Solicitor’s Office.

The rape allegations first came to light after the victim told his doctor about the sex crimes following the second rape.

Nyhan accepted some sexual activity had occurred between him and the victim when questioned by gardai but he denied raping him, the court heard.

Speaking about the rapes, the victim told the court: “I told him to stop, I didn't like it.”

When the victim was asked by Nyhan’s counsel - Mr Nicholas - what he was doing when he alleged that Nyhan was removing his trousers and underpants, the victim replied, “I was just scared, I just froze.”

Mr Nicholas said Nyhan claimed the victim asked him for €150 cash for sex, and that the victim had removed his own pants and underpants for sex.

Mr Nicholas suggested the victim had been in possession of “a knife” and that as Nyhan “was afraid you’d harm yourself”, “he pretended to go along with it”.

The victim told the court this was “bulls**t”.

“He (Nyhan) put his penis into me, and before he put his penis into me, he spat down on my hole,” said the victim.

READ MORE: 'Sexually abused for your sick pleasure': Man jailed for sex crimes against two sisters in Limerick

The victim told the court Nyhan threw him on the bed, and despite pleading with Nyhan to “stop” the farmer “thrust” himself into the victim, told him he “loved” him, raped him, and afterwards “kissed” the victim on his testicles.

The victim told the court Nyhan’s denials of the rapes were “lies”.

“It was like barbed wire going up your, (pause), it was like hell, like something burning you,” said the victim, who became emotional while giving evidence.

The victim agreed with Mr Nicholas that he had remained in regular contact with Nyhan following the first rape in 2011.

The victim denied claims by Nyhan that he had asked him for money for sex and that he had grabbed Nyhan’s “crotch” a number of times.

The jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict on both rape counts

Nyhan was remanded on continuing bail. 

Sentencing of the convicted rapist by Ms Justice Ring is due to take place on June 23.