Man convicted of raping sleeping woman

A KERRY man has been convicted at the Central Criminal Court of raping a woman while she slept in her bed.

Daniel DJ Keane, aged 24, was found guilty by a jury after three hours deliberating and a three-day trial.

He was remanded on continuing bail to face sentence in May.

Keane of Beach Grove, Listowel had pleaded not guilty to the rape of the woman at her Kerry home on February 9, 2009.

Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan thanked the jury for their time and excused them from further service for five years.

He ordered Keane to stay away from the victim while awaiting sentence and to hand in his passport.

The trial heard Keane had claimed to gardaí that he had “a wet dream” while he was sleeping beside her in the bed but denied any sexual interaction.

Yesterday the court heard forensic evidence that his DNA was found on her genital area.

Sarah Flemming, a forensic scientist, told prosecuting counsel, Anthony Sammon SC, that she examined swabs taken from the woman’s genital areas and discovered semen which contained DNA matching that of Keane to a likelihood of a billion to one.

She agreed with defence counsel, Hugh Harnett SC, that it is possible for sperm to move around the female genitals over a period of time.

During cross-examination of the victim, Mr Hartnett produced a picture taken from the woman’s Facebook page which he said showed her straddling a naked man in the months after she made the allegations.

He asked her if it was the typical behaviour of a woman who claimed she had lost her confidence after a rape.

The woman replied that the man was not completely naked and that she was entitled to have a good time.