THE RAPE victim who was at the centre of the “C” case 12 years ago has spoken of the prolonged impact the multiple assault has had on her life.
Her rapist, Simon McGinley (35), was this week sentenced to 21 years’ imprisonment for another rape, of an 86-year-old woman in June 2008.
McGinley had denied raping the pensioner and pleaded not guilty, but his DNA was found on the victim’s electric blanket and pyjamas and his fingerprints were found in her bathroom and bedroom. He was convicted in May.
The court heard McGinley had previously attended a sex offenders’ programme in jail and that his wife and young children, who were in court for the hearing, continued to be “supportive and loyal”.
When McGinley was convicted of the rape in the “C” case, the court had imposed a 12-year sentence, with four years suspended.
On the Today with Pat Kenny programme on RTÉ radio yesterday, the now 25-year-old “Mary” (not her real name), said she had been at the court earlier this week to see him sentenced.
“I just had to go to the court. I had to see his face and see him for the last time before he got put away and to see how long he got sentenced for.
“It kind of gave me that bit of relief when he got 21 years.”
The girl became pregnant as a result of the ordeal and a highly contentious court judgment cleared the way for her to travel to England for an abortion.
“Mary” described in detail the horror of the experience.
She was 13 and babysitting for McGinley’s family for the first time. He had insisted on driving her home even though he was drunk.
“Then he drove past the halting site and I said ‘Where are you going?’ and he said ‘I’m going up the road to get matches and smokes’.
“Then he pulled in at the side of the road and dragged me into the back of the van and raped me and started punching me around.”
She added: “After he had finished raping me he dropped me home, put a knife up to my throat and said if I told anyone he would kill me and kill my family.”