A LOUTH man has been sentenced to three years for raping a woman at a house party more than two years ago.
Christopher Minogue’s victim later stated that she felt like a “piece of evidence” as she was being examined afterwards.
In a statement to the court, the woman described her life as “a nightmare” since and said Minogue had “tainted” her.
Minogue (29), Rockfield Close, Stoney Lane, Ardee, pleaded guilty to raping the woman (27) in on October 12th, 2009.
Mr Justice Paul Carney said it was the “experience of the court” that a young man taking the amount of drink that he had, along with a cannabis joint, could wake up the next morning unaware that he had committed homicide or rape. He accepted that the Director of Public Prosecutions had found the offence was at the lower end of the scale.
Mr Justice Carney said he had taken into account the “inherent grave nature of the offence” and the effect it had on the victim. “As she stated in her victim impact report, he had no right to violate her while she slept.”
He sentenced Minogue to three years in prison with the final 18 months suspended on condition that he stay away from his victim upon his release from prison.
Mr Justice Carney said he had also taken into consideration Minogue’s previous good character and genuine remorse.
Garda Patricia Flynn told Paul Coffey SC, prosecuting, that the woman was out socialising in various pubs and a night club before returning to an apartment with several other people. Minogue later joined the group.
The woman had drunk a large amount and went to sleep in one of the bedrooms at about 3.30am. According to one witness, Minogue had to be stopped from entering the bedroom several times during the night.
At about 8am, the woman awoke to find Minogue having sex with her. She jumped up and ran out of the room while Minogue followed her and said: “Now you’re making it out to be bad.”
She replied: “You’re mental, get away from me,” before leaving the apartment. Later that day she alerted gardaí and was taken to a sex assault treatment unit for examination. She was also tested for HIV.
Minogue was arrested and claimed he went into the room and sat on the bed where there was “a bit of groping”.
He later admitted raping her and said: “I’m sorry, I’m not a bastard. I have feelings.” He said he drank 13 cans of beer, three pints, six shots, three double vodkas and smoked a cannabis joint before the incident.
In her victim impact statement, the woman said she felt like a “piece of evidence” after the rape and described waiting on the HIV test results as “a horrible feeling”. Her life became a “nightmare” and she was constantly anticipating another attack.