An Irish soldier from Londonderry has been sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in prison for raping a woman at a Dublin hotel. Kielan Mooney, 30, of Bloomfield Park, Derry, was convicted by a jury in December at Dublin’s Central Criminal Court for the 2021 incident. The judge rejected any suspension of his sentence after receiving contradictory evidence regarding his character references.
Impact on the Victim
In a powerful victim impact statement, the woman detailed the devastating toll the assault had taken on her mental health, leaving her feeling suicidal. She described revealing the assault to her family as “one of the most heartbreaking experiences” of her life.
Judge Rejects Mitigating Evidence
During the sentencing hearing, Mooney’s defense presented character references from family and friends, highlighting his role as a father to his five children. However, two former partners submitted statements contradicting these claims. They testified that Mooney had not maintained meaningful contact with his children and had failed to provide child support.
One mother described how their child lost interest in seeing Mooney due to repeated letdowns, with contact ceasing entirely in 2022. Another former partner stated that Mooney had been absent for over two years, had never paid child maintenance, and had neglected their children. She described incidents where he left their child waiting at playschool, adding, “I would never let him near my children now.”
Judge Criticizes Attempts to Mislead the Court
Mr. Justice Tony Hunt criticized attempts to “mislead” the court through overstated character references, emphasizing that Mooney’s duties as a father had been exaggerated. The judge stated there was no evidence of regret or acknowledgment of the crime from Mooney, citing this as a factor in the decision to refuse a suspended sentence.
Serious Nature of the Crime
The judge noted that the victim’s response to the assault and her demeanor afterward left no doubt about the gravity of the crime. “What happened was radically wrong,” he said. He also stressed the long-term impact on the victim and reaffirmed the court’s commitment to holding offenders accountable.
Mooney’s conviction serves as a reminder of the serious consequences of sexual violence and the importance of justice for victims.
