Convicted rapist entitled to pension in arrears, Supreme Court rules

A rapist jailed for 12 years who successfully challenged the constitutionality of a law stopping payment of the State's old age pension to prisoners is entitled to €10,000 in damages, the Supreme Court has ruled.

The five-judge court unanimously concluded last July that the relevant law - Section 249.1 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 - which disqualifies persons who are otherwise qualified for various welfare benefits, from receiving "any" of those benefits, including the old age contributory pension, while imprisoned or detained in legal custody was unconstitutional.