Wexford Man Sentenced to 10 Years for 1994 Teen Rape

A 79-year-old man has been jailed for 10 years for raping a teenage girl in her own bed over 30 years ago.

Michael Sinnott was aged 47 when he entered the house and raped the 15-year-old girl while her parents were away for the morning.

Sinnott, of Ballinruane, Ballycullane, New Ross, Co. Wexford, was convicted of raping the girl at her home in March 1994. He has no previous convictions.

The Central Criminal Court heard that the injured party wished to retain her anonymity but had no difficulty with Sinnott being named. He was known to her family and a visitor to her home.

Sinnott maintains his innocence and does not accept the verdict of the jury.

Passing sentence Mr Justice Paul Burns said the court acknowledged the striking courage of the woman in coming forward and bringing Sinnott to justice.

Mr Justice Burns noted the “profound adverse impact” of the rape on the woman. He noted that while she found the court process difficult, she feels some validation in the jury’s verdict, which helped redirect the blame back to Sinnott, where it belongs.

The judge said this offence was a “grave and egregious” breach of trust, noting Sinnott placed a pillow over the girl’s head and referred to her in humiliating terms.

Mr Justice Burns considered in mitigation that Sinnott had a family and suffered several medical issues that will make prison particularly difficult for him. He noted his good work history and testimonials highlighting a positive side to him.

The judge set a headline sentence of 12 years imprisonment, but taking into account the mitigating and personal circumstances, he imposed a term of 10 years' imprisonment.

An investigating garda told James Dwyer SC, prosecuting, that Sinnott was a frequent visitor to the girl’s home and it was a well-established routine of her parents to be away shopping on a certain morning of the week.

The gardai said on one such morning, Sinnott came to the house, entered the teenager’s bedroom and raped the girl in her own bed. He put a pillow over her face.

The court heard the woman did not tell her parents what had occurred and felt shame and embarrassment. She found it difficult to cope and did not report the rape until 2022.

In her victim impact statement, she told the court of the fear, confusion and loss of control she felt at the time of the rape. She said her sense of safety was taken that morning and has never fully returned.

She said the rape did not end with that act and she carried the impacts into her teens and adulthood.

She outlined that it affected how she viewed herself, her trust in others, intimacy and she suffers with hypervigilance and anxiety. She said this is not something she can simply leave in the past.