Sentence appeal to be heard today in case of man who raped sleeping girlfriend
An appeal over the sentence handed down to a Norwegian man who raped his girlfriend in her sleep will be heard later this morning.
Lawyers for the DPP will argue that the fully suspended sentence handed down to Magnus Meyer Hustveit was unduly lenient.
Victims of rape are legally entitled to have their identities protected, but Niamh Ní Dhomnaill waived her right to anonymity so that her ex, Magnus Meyer Hustveit, could be publicly named.
Last July, the 25-year-old Norwegian was handed a seven-year sentence after admitting to raping her in her sleep in an apartment they shared in Dublin four years ago.
The “deception and repetition” of the crime, as well as the effect on his victim, warranted a severe sentence, according to Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, but he suspended the sentence in full after considering a range of mitigating factors.
Ms Ní Dhomnaill asked the DPP to appeal the leniency of the sentence after spending time raising awareness about what happened to her in the hope it would help others.
That appeal is due to get underway this morning.
