Teen reveals she tried to take life after rape; Man jailed for six and a half years

Trevor McDonagh (aged 19) was convicted following a Central Criminal Court trial last month of brutally raping the then 16-year-old girl at a Co. Wicklow location on March 4, 2014.

He had pleaded not guilty to these offences but pleaded guilty to a fourth charge of stealing the girl's phone on the same date.

The court heard that McDonagh, with an address at Woodlands Green, Lamberton Road, Arklow and family links in Kilkenny, raped the girl as she was bent over in pain from him biting her breast.

A local detective garda told Tara Burns SC, prosecuting, that McDonagh was 15 years old at the time and had lured the girl down a lane way with another boy.

He pushed her against a wall, rubbed himself against her and bit her on her breast when she struggled to get away from him.

The court heard that McDonagh stopped the rape and ran off after thinking gardaí were in the vicinity. The girl realised her phone was missing when she went to call her mother.

Reading from her Victim Impact Statement, the now young woman revealed she suffered hair loss and frequent seizures as a result of the attack.

Described by Mr Justice Paul Butler as a “very articulate and intelligent young lady”, the woman outlined the invasive sexual assault examinations she had to endure after the rape.

She said she had never had a sexual relationship before and that this first experience was “disgusting, dirty, unwanted” down a cold lane where nobody could hear her “screaming for my mammy”.

She said the pain from McDonagh's bite was “indescribable” and that the resulting wound bled for a month and had to be treated by her doctor.

She detailed the prolonged medical testing and treatment she received to prevent any sexually transmitted diseases and revealed that she tried to take her own life after the attack.

The woman paid tribute to her mother, who she said slept in a chair beside her each time she was in hospital and bought her a new phone despite serious financial constraints.

Addressing McDonagh, she said he had “never shown remorse or responsibility” for what he had done.

“I am strong, I am not a victim, this will not define me. I have a future”, she said.

She thanked everyone involved in the case, her friends, family and her “patient, kind and gentle” boyfriend.

Damien Colgan SC, defending, submitted to Mr Justice Butler that his client had been expelled from school at the age of 13.

He asked the judge to be lenient on McDonagh and to provide some structure in his sentence.

Mr Justice Butler took into account McDonagh's young age at the time, the fact he has no relevant previous convictions apart from minor thefts and that he has no formal education.

He imposed an eight-year sentence with the final 18 months suspended on condition he makes no contact with the woman, stays away from her area and and is of good behaviour.