Man gets eight years for raping girl,15

A Louth man who raped a 15-year-old family friend has been sentenced to eight years in prison.

The now 23-year-old, who cannot be named to protect his victim’s identity, was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury following a trial earlier this month of rape and defilement of the girl at his home between October 4 and 5, 2014.

The accused has no previous convictions and is maintaining his innocence of the charges.