A judge has sentenced a serial burglar to 12 years for a rape committed during a burglary but suspended the final three years on condition that the man completes his Leaving Certificate.
Gerard Kane (36), Dominic Street, Dún Laoghaire, was on bail at the time for a previous burglary of the constituency office of former Fianna Fáil minister Barry Andrews.
While in the house Kane went to the bathroom and returned with “white powder” on his bottom lip before raping the woman again. As he was leaving he made her promise not to call gardaí, gave her a hug and asked for her number so he could take her out to dinner.
Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan, at the Central Criminal Court, said the victim was an “excellent witness” who showed “great resilience”, but that this did not lessen the impact on her.
He noted that Kane had spent most of his adult life in prison but had no previous convictions for sex crimes.
He suspended the final three years of the sentence on condition that Kane completed study for his Leaving Cert and then an additional two-year educational course.