Man who raped 14-year-old girl jailed for eight years

A Waterford man who raped a 14-year-old girl just after she got off a bus was today jailed for eight years by Mr Justice Paul Carney at the Central Criminal Court.

Gary Crowley (aged 26) of Marine Drive, Tramore and with an address at St Herblain, Waterford pleaded guilty to raping the teenager on the night of January 22-23, 2006 at Cherrymount, Kilbarry.

Crowley was detected as the culprit when Garda John O’Toole arrested him some days later concerning an unpaid fine and thought his facial features resembled those in a CD-fit picture of the rapist which had been compiled for the investigation.

Detective Sergeant Finbar O'Sullivan told Mr Paul Greene BL, prosecuting, that father-of-two Crowley made admissions when interviewed about the rape after Gda O’Toole contacted colleagues involved in the case.

Mr Justice Carney said major aggravating factors in the case were the age of the victim and Crowley’s "credible threat to kill her". He could be jailed for 14 years on the threat to kill alone.

He said mitigating factors included his early admissions and remorse and his guilty plea which assured the victim she would not have to give evidence and also freed up a trial date. Mr Justice Carney suspended the final 18 months of the sentence.

The victim earlier told Mr Justice Carney that she suffered nightmares still and her school work had deteriorated as a result of the rape. She also now experienced personal difficulties and hadn’t benefited much so far from counselling.

"I feel what has happened to me has made me a whole different person," she said. "I wish I didn't think about it as much."

She also said she didn’t trust people any more and didn’t go out much.

The victim's mother said Crowley had ruined her family life and her daughter's life.

Det Sgt O’Sullivan told Mr Greene the victim had got off a bus from Tramore to Waterford with a friend who had then rushed ahead when Crowley grabbed her from behind, said he had a knife and threatened to kill her if she didn’t remain quiet. She tried to contact her friend who didn’t understand her signal.

Crowley had been the last person to get on the same bus. He dragged her down a lane and raped her after pulling off her clothes. Crowley then dragged her by the hair across rough ground and tried to rape her again but she made good her escape and got to a nearby house.

Det. Sgt O’Sullivan said the people in the house found her in a semi-naked, distraught state and contacted the gardaí. They also caught a glimpse of Crowley who had followed her when she escaped.

Det Sgt O’Sullivan agreed with Mr Paddy McCarthy SC, defending, that the victim didn’t see any knife and no knife was ever found. Crowley was born in Waterford and moved to Tramore with his family when young.

Mr McCarthy told Mr Justice Carney that Crowley admitted the matter to gardaí and pleaded guilty without delay. He would now have difficulties returning home to his native city after serving his sentence and asked for light at the end of the tunnel.

He said that Crowley had an alcohol problem at the time but didn't offer that as an excuse.