Rape sentencing - Totally inadequate

STATISTICS show that the majority of rape cases never make it to court and yesterday’s two-year sentence for the rape of a woman in Waterford will do nothing to change that scandalous situation.

Rapist Billy Keogh was a businessman, a married father-of-six with, with an interest in vigorous sex. Two years ago he raped a Croatian prostitute and yesterday he was sentenced to just two years in jail for his crime.

With good behaviour he might be out in time to see next year’s European Cup final.

Surely that sort of penalty does not represent what this society regards as just. Surely our courts must reflect the values of our society. This sentence does not do that in any way. It is totally inadequate.