Manuela killer given life for rape of French student

Gerald Barry, the 29-year-old Galway city man who is serving life for the murder of Swiss student Manuela Riedo, was given two concurrent life sentences today for the double rape of a French student in August 2007, committed just weeks before he murdered Ms Riedo.

Mr Justice Paul Carney said he had to impose the maximum penalty of life imprisonment for both rapes given Barry's propensity to kill and rape, and because he believed Barry would do so again if given the opportunity.

Barry, a native of Mervue in Galway, with a rental address at Rosan Glas, Rahoon, Galway stood passively between two prison officers as the sentences were being handed down in the Central Criminal Court in Galway.

Barry had pleaded guilty earlier this week to the oral and anal rape of a then 21-year-old French student at playing pitches in Mervue on August 16, 2007 and to the theft of her personal belongings.

The rape occurred just seven weeks before Barry murdered 17-year-old Ms Riedo as she walked alone along a railway path leading to the Galway city on the night of October 8, 2007.

Passing sentence, Mr Justice Carney said Barry was a sex offender with “a quite extraordinary history of previous convictions”.

“From the victim’s description of the rape - and she was the only one there - and from the accused man’s previous record, I believe he is a person who has a propensity to kill and rape and is highly likely to do so again, if given the opportunity.

“Not everybody is suitable for a tunnel of hope to be built into a sentence as this was a concept that was developed in gentler times and before the scourge of drugs made people mindless, wholly irrational and evil,” Judge Carney said.

The judge said that as far as Barry’s dysfunctional background was concerned it afforded him no defence and no mitigation, neither did his taking of drink and drugs. The only thing, he said, that he could find in his favour was his plea of guilty.

“In the facts of the offence, the effect on the victim and the accused’s continuing danger to society, and his proclivity and propensity to kill and rape again if given the chance, I’m justified in imposing the maximum sentence in this case - in spite of his plea - of life imprisonment,” Judge Carney said.

He then sentenced Barry to life in prison on both counts of rape, to run concurrently and he took the remaining theft charge into account.

The life sentences, the judge indicated, were from today.

Judge Carney refused Mr Martin Giblin SC, defending, leave to appeal.

Outside the courthouse gardaí had cordoned off side roads leading to the building as a precautionary measure. A small group of people gathered quietly outside as Barry was placed in a prison van and driven away at speed.