Offaly nurse expected home after Australia rape allegation dropped

Shay O’Loughlin hopes his daughter will be back on home soil within the next two weeks once the case is struck out at Brisbane District Court tomorrow.

Prosecutors are expected to formally enter a nolle prosequi – which means not to continue with the case.

Mr O’Loughlin said: “The solicitor rang my daughter and she rang me at ten to midnight last night and said that the person had dropped the charges.

“It will be confirmed tomorrow in the court. Then she can get her passport back and book her flights.

“We are very relieved. It’s wonderful.

“She was quite emotional but delighted,” he added.

Ms O’Loughlin, 26, from Fran in Edenderry, Co Offaly, went to Brisbane in 2008 and worked as a nurse at the Mater Hospital.

After a 10 day trial she was convicted of two counts of digital rape and one of deprivation of liberty at the Caxton Hotel, Brisbane on November 29, 2009.

She was jailed for two and a half years but granted conditional bail earlier this month after Queensland’s court of appeal unanimously ordered a new trial.

Mr O’Loughlin, who has supported his daughter throughout the case, said they had been quietly confident the nurse could be cleared at a retrial after hiring a new legal team.

He said Ms O’Loughlin had also remained strong throughout her time in prison from all the support she got from home.

“It was restrictive for someone to lie about her but she was mentally very strong,” he continued.

“It helped her that we were here. We had wonderful support here at home from neighbours and the whole community and she was made aware of that at all times.

“She had a big support group out there too. Her brother (John) who lives in Queensland. He was down to Brisbane to see her on Saturday.”

Mr O’Loughlin said his daughter will be home as soon as she settles her affairs.

“We just want to settle down for a while and give her time and space to get back to normality,” he added.