Online drinking contests ‘will lead to a tsunami of rape cases’

A High Court judge has warned that if internet drinking contests continue, they will result in a “tsunami” of homicide and rape prosecutions before his court.

Mr Justice Paul Carney was speaking in sentencing a 38-year-old Waterford man who, after drinking six to seven pints of beer, raped an acquaintance, having offered her a lift home from their local nightclub.

Yesterday, the man received an eight-year sentence with the final three years suspended. An 18-month post-release supervision order was also imposed and the man was registered a sex offender.