Man who raped woman in church grounds has appeal rejected

A man who took mobile phone pictures of a woman whom he repeatedly raped in the grounds of a church has lost his appeal to have his 12-year sentence reduced.

Today the Court of Criminal Appeal said it was satisfied that that the 12-year sentence imposed "fell within the range appropriate sentences in all the circumstances".

Richard Finn (aged 21) had subjected the married woman, a Polish national, to more than two hours of rapes on July 22, 2007 at Convent Road, Clondalkin, Dublin, after he grabbed her when she was walking to work around 7.30am.

He forcibly detained her in the grounds of the Church of Immaculate Conception and Scoil Mhuire until nearly 10am.

Finn was caught by gardaí as a result of the woman's description of him and other information. Apart from DNA evidence, his victim's mobile phone was also found in his bedroom when he was arrested.

Finn, a hotel barman of Rockfield Drive, Clondalkin, Dublin, was jailed for 12 years for rape and oral rape after he pleaded guilty before Mr Justice Paul Carney at the Central Criminal Court on April 28, 2008.