A 28 year old Mayo native has been jailed for seven years for raping a work colleague at a house party in 2013.
Shane Noonan of Castlehill Park, Turlough Road in Castlebar pleaded guilty earlier this year to the rape of Ciara Mangan ten years ago.
They were both 18 at the time and working in a fast food restaurant in Castlebar.
Ms Justice Eileen Creedon described the act as “cold, predatory and premeditated.”
Ms Mangan told the Central Criminal Court that she suddenly felt unwell after being handed an open can of cider at a party on May 11 2013.
She said that Mr Noonan made a “beeline” for her, guided her upstairs and raped her in the bathroom.
The Judge added the evidence suggested a degree of planning was involved. Ms Mangan said she was slipping in and out of consciousness, and received no assistance from Noonan afterwards.
Ms Mangan said that in the aftermath of the rape she was subjected to “rape comments” as well as “rape songs” by colleagues in her workplace at the time, when the owner was absent.
She told the court that she suffered flashbacks, panic attacks, anxiety, depression, post traumatic stress and issues with trust and relationships in the aftermath.
Ms Mangan read aloud her own victim statement to the court outlining the damaging and continuing effects this is having on her and her family’s life.
Her statement from outside the courthouse can be viewed on https://www.rte.ie/news/courts/2023/0717/1394943-noonan-sentence/
Ms. Justice Creedon imposed a sentence of eight years with the final year suspended on conditions including an assessment for a sex offender treatment programme.
