Teenager left 'catatonic' as a result of defendant's abuse, court hears

The Central Criminal Court in Dublin, where the victim impact statement and further evidence was heard. File picture

A mother has said her son was “frozen and locked” in his body as a result of being raped as a young teenager by a now 51-year-old man.

She said her son, who had mild autism when the abuse happened, was diagnosed in 2023 as “catatonic”, unable to carry out the “most basic” of everyday functions.