The woman at the centre of yesterday's court case has called on the Minister for Justice, Brian Lenihan, to rectify the "serious flaws in our criminal justice system" and to ensure that this "never ever happens again".
Mary Shannon's sister, Sarah, read a statement outside the court on her behalf in which she also expressed the hope that the result would encourage other victims of sexual assault to come forward and seek justice.
"Although it has been a long road to today's deserved justice, I feel that after today's verdict, it has all been worthwhile. I feel hopeful that in the future no rapist should ever be able to walk a free person from court, without serving a custodial sentence, after a verdict of guilty has been passed," she said.
"I hope the Minister for Justice puts in place the relevant steps to ensure that this never ever happens again, and that now is the time to stand up and act immediately in rectifying the serious flaws in our justice system.
A spokeswoman for Mr Lenihan last night said it would be "highly inappropriate" for him to comment on individual cases.
"The programme for government contains a commitment to establish a Judicial Sentencing Commission to formulate sentencing guidelines," Mr Lenihan said in a statement. "In considering the matter, I will be guided by the ongoing work of the steering committee which has been established by the Courts Service Board to plan for and provide information on sentencing."
The objective of a sentencing information system is to enable a judge to access information about the range of sentences and other penalties imposed for particular types of offence in previous cases, he added.
Cliona Saidléar, policy and communications co-ordinator with the Irish Rape Crisis Network, welcomed the sentence but said it was "regrettable" that Mary Shannon "got caught up in what should have been a straightforward sentencing case".