Irish soldier from Derry to be sentenced for Dublin rape

A woman who was raped by an Irish soldier from Londonderry had said his actions made her suicidal.

Kielan Mooney, 30, with an address at Bloomfield Park, Derry, was found guilty of three counts of rape and one count of sexual assault in court in Dublin last week.

The attack happened in July 2021 at a Dublin hotel.

At a pre-sentencing hearing on Tuesday, the court heard that prosecutors have suggested a sentence of 10 to 15 years.

In her victim impact statement the woman said her life was just beginning when Mooney assaulted her.

"What happened changed my life, I wouldn't wish it on anyone, no 21-year-old should go through this," she said.

She said telling her family she was raped was "one of the most heartbreaking experiences", especially the thought of her grandmother knowing what happened.

"Never in my life did I think that a man was to take something from me I could never get back."

During the trial the court heard the pair were in bed when Mooney anally raped her.

She confirmed to the jury she did not agree to this, that this was painful to her, she asked him to stop and he did not.

After this, she retreated to the bathroom and contacted a friend.

Mooney took her from the bathroom and forced her to perform oral sex.

She did not consent to this, after which he pushed her on to the bed, where he had vaginal sex with her.

She said she was hysterical when her friends arrived to the room and Mooney was ejected from the premises.

Mooney, when arrested, said there had been no anal sex and that the sex that did happen was consensual.

The victim said the rape had taken a toll on her mental health, leading to her going to a "dark place and using alcohol" but that through therapy she had started living life again.

Mooney, who had seven signed affidavits towards his character from members of his family and community, will now be placed on the sex offenders register.

Sentencing has been adjourned until 20 January.