DPP explains case against rapist of Down’s woman

At a lengthy sentence hearing yesterday, the DPP outlined how it built a case against Faisal Ellahi which saw a jury unanimously convict him of raping a woman with Down syndrome.

Ellahi was convicted last December of raping the woman after luring her to his house when she became separated from her mother.

The woman pointed out Ellahi’s building to gardaí twice twice. DNA swabs from her matched Ellahi’s DNA and fibres were also found on his bedsheets.

Caroline Biggs, leading the prosecution, explained how the victim’s capacity had to be established and whether or not Ellahi could have been unaware that she had Down syndrome.

Ellahi first denied bringing anyone back to his house on June 12, 2013, but later said it was “consensual fun”.

Ms Biggs said the victim was found to have Down syndrome and a mental age of 7 to 11 years old.

Head of Down Syndrome Ireland, Pat Clarke, said Down syndrome incidents and symptoms were the same around the world.

Ellahi’s defence counsel Padraig Dwyer SC said his client has an IQ of 73. He said he had worked as a shelf packer and security guard.

Mr Dwyer said Ellahi propositioned 16 other women in the area including one minutes after the rape. He said there was no pattern to the type of women and none of these incidents resulted in complaints being made to gardaí.

Another sentencing hearing is set for Monday.