Home invasion rapist was on bail for Fianna Fáil office burglary

A serial burglar was on bail when he broke into a woman’s house and repeatedly raped her, the Central Criminal Court has heard.

Gerard Kane (aged 36) threatened to bury his victim in the back garden and said he would hang himself if she went to the gardaí. During the ordeal he went to the bathroom and returned with “white powder” on his bottom lip before raping the woman again.

As he was leaving he made her promise not to call gardaí, gave her a hug and asked for her number so he could take her out to dinner.

Kane was on bail at the time for a previous burglary of the constituency office of former Fianna Fáil minister, Barry Andrew. He received a two-year sentence last July for the break-in.

Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan said he will sentence Kane for the rape charges in two weeks and that whatever sentence is imposed will be consecutive to the two-year term.

At a sentencing hearing today the court heard how the victim still has nightmares and flashbacks to the night Kane raped her and that she sometimes imagines a man standing at her bedroom door.

Kane, formerly of Dominic Street, Dun Laoghaire, had previously pleaded not guilty to raping her at her home on June 17, 2011. During his trial he changed his plea to guilty after five days of evidence.

Garda Adam Clear told prosecuting counsel Fiona Murphy BL that Kane has 26 previous convictions including nine that were dealt with in the Circuit Court. These include burglary, drug possession, threats, robbery and assault.

In a victim impact report the woman told the court that the week after the break-in was the worst of her life because she thought Kane might return and kill her, “like he said he would”.

She said she became paranoid and anxious and was forced to take sleeping tablets.

Kane’s defence counsel Conor Devally SC said his client had a chaotic upbringing and that his mother was an alcoholic. He said he showed some promise as a footballer but fell into drug and alcohol abuse in his mid-teens.

Counsel said the attack was “opportunistic” and not pre-meditated. He submitted that Kane is “somewhat institutionalized from years in prison” and that he has tried and failed to get treatment for his drug addiction.

Mr Justice Sheehan remanded Kane in custody until sentencing on December 6, 2012.