'I hope you never forgive yourself': Brazilian soccer player jailed for rape of Cork teen in her home

Defendant entered 19-year-old victim's bedroom holding a knife and raped her on numerous occasions, recording some of it on his phone, court heard

The 10-year sentence was reduced by one year because of mitigating factors such as the defendant’s good work history, lack of previous convictions, family support in Brazil, and his very limited English, and the fact prison life would be harder for him. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

A former professional soccer player from Brazil based in West Cork was jailed for nine years on Friday for raping a 19-year-old woman in her own bedroom at knifepoint, threatening to kill her and making video-recordings of her ordeal.

39-year-old Tiago Damasceno Sousa, who was living in West Cork for about 18 months before the rape on March 29, 2024, was sentenced to 10 years by Ms Justice Siobhán Lankford, with the last year suspended, at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork.

The judge said she wanted to commend the young woman for her quick-thinking, bravery and the clarity of her victim impact statement, and said she should be proud of herself.

Ms Justice Lankford said at the sentencing hearing on Friday: “The injured party was aged 19 at the time. She was in a relationship with her boyfriend and she still has that relationship. 

"On March 29, 2024, in the early hours of the morning, a man she knew to see, entered her bedroom holding a knife and raped her on numerous occasions over a period of about two hours. During the ordeal, he kept threatening her. He said if she did not stay quiet he would kill her. He was waving a knife around. He slapped her on the face.

“During the ordeal, he produced a phone and videotaped certain activities. He recorded sexual activity. He recorded her intimate private parts. He kept apologising during incident. It was urged on me [by the defence] that this was in some way indicative of remorse. 

In my view, it adds to the disrespect to which Mr Sousa subjected her during the incident. He was apologising because he knew what he was doing was wrong. He was crying [outside afterwards and at interview by gardaí], I think because he knew what he was doing was wrong.” 

The 10-year sentence was reduced by one year because of mitigating factors such as the defendant’s good work history, lack of previous convictions, family support in Brazil, and his very limited English, and the fact prison life would be harder for him.

Victim impact statement

In her victim impact statement, the young woman wondered how a man with a daughter her own age could carry out a crime like this.

“No matter how many showers I had, it felt like his fingerprints were on my body permanently, if someone was to touch me, even a hug, it terrified me.

“I've a fear of being alone [at home]. I couldn't sleep alone for a long time or without a background noise… That was the house I grew up in and now it's in my nightmares. No one should ever have to fear for their safety in their own home.

“I hope you realise how serious this crime is and how much it can really destroy someone's life. I hope you never forgive yourself or forget how much your actions have affected someone. I hope you never feel okay or comfortable with yourself ever again.” 

Detective Garda Áine O’Regan of the Garda Protective Services Unit said the injured party told gardaí that morning about being raped and threatened at knifepoint between 7am and 9am in her own home by Sousa, whom she had never spoken to before.

“He held a knife to her and raped her on numerous occasions that morning. She woke to find him leaning over her in her bed at 7am. He had a knife in his right hand. He covered her mouth with his left hand. He told her to shut up or he would kill her and her mum and her dad. He had the knife in the air moving it back and forth. The blade never touched her. He was on top of her.

He used Google Translate on his phone at various times and told her she could not tell anyone until he had gone back to Brazil. It was later discovered by gardaí he had his bags packed and had a flight to Brazil booked for the following day and a return flight back to Ireland a month later.

Defence senior counsel Jane Hyland said the accused had a significant amount of alcohol that night and that morning. 

Ms Hyland said the accused had a good work history and was previously a professional soccer player, playing for a Brazilian club called America Mineiro, a Serie 2 team based in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais.