The Director of Public Prosecutions has lodged an appeal against the leniency of the three year suspended sentence handed down two weeks ago to Adam Keane of Darragh, Co Clare for rape.
His victim, 33-year-old Mary Shannon, waived her right to anonymity and pleaded with the DPP to appeal the sentence.
The case is expected to be mentioned in the Court of Criminal Appeal next Tuesday, when the DPP is expected to ask that it be given priority and an early date for hearing.
If the appeal is given priority, then it could be heard as early as June or July.
