A Co Mayo man has been jailed for seven years for what the judge described as the "cold, predatory and premeditated" rape of a work colleague as she drifted in and out of consciousness on a bathroom floor.
28-year-old Shane Noonan of Castlehill Park, Turlough Road in Castlebar pleaded guilty earlier this year to the rape of 28-year-old Ciara Mangan at a house party ten years ago.
They were both 18 at the time and working in a fast food restaurant in Castlebar.
Ms Mangan told the Central Criminal Court she felt suddenly unwell after being handed an open can of cider at a party on 11 May, 2013. She said Noonan made a "beeline" for her, guided her upstairs and raped her in a bathroom.
Ms Justice Eileen Creedon said the evidence suggested a degree of planning. Ms Mangan was targeted in a vulnerable position, she said, and was slipping in and out of consciousness. She received no assistance from Noonan afterwards.
In the aftermath of the rape, Ms Mangan told the court she was subjected to "rape comments" and "rape songs" by colleagues in the restaurant when the owner was absent.
She said this was "absolute hell on earth" and she began to doubt herself because her colleagues "found it funny and a source of entertainment".
She told the court the rape had made her feel "unbelievably degraded, tarnished and violated". She said she hoped to move on although she could never forget and she would now take control over the life that had been stolen from her.
The court heard that Ms Mangan had agreed reluctantly to go to a house party on 11 May, 2013. After being handed an open can of cider, she said she began to feel weird and disorientated, her hearing was muffled, she felt sleepy and had a vague memory of vomiting. She felt Noonan made a beeline for her as if waiting for the right time.
He tried to kiss her but she pushed him away. He then demanded they go upstairs and he guided her into a bathroom and locked the door. He told her to lie on the floor and raped her as she went in and out of consciousness.
In her victim impact statement, Ms Mangan said she felt as if she was trapped under water with a shark circling her. The rape was aggressive she said and she had no energy or strength to defend herself.
She said she did not tell her parents what had happened until her younger sister was about to start work in the same restaurant. She described falling into a depression and having suicidal thoughts and panic attacks.
Ms Mangan does not live in Castlebar at the moment. She said it was only since Noonan had been jailed since pleading guilty earlier this year that she felt safe enough to walk around the town on her own.
Speaking outside, Ms Mangan said she had suffered in silence for many years. But she said she had nothing to be ashamed of.
She thanked her family, investigating gardaí and the Rape Crisis Centre. Ms Mangan also thanked victims of sexual crimes who had previously waived their anonymity as she said they had given her the courage to come forward.
She criticised the horrendous and relentless abuse she had suffered after the rape and said those who did it or stood by and did nothing had participated in destroying her.
The court heard Noonan had expressed remorse although he has said he cannot recall the rape and has given no explanation for it.
He has no previous convictions and has not come to garda attention since.
Ms Justice Creedon sentenced him to eight years with the final year suspended.
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