Man jailed for five years for rape and sexual assault of woman on first date
A MAN WHO anally raped a woman on their first date, despite her telling him repeatedly he did not have her legal consent to do so, has been jailed for five years and three months.
37-year-old Gary Coffey, formerly of Leinster Road West, Dublin, was found guilty by a jury of one count of anal rape and one count of sexually assaulting the woman at his home address in January 2023 following a Central Criminal Court trial in March this year.
The court heard the victim in the case wished to keep her anonymity and did not wish for Coffey to be named.
However, he is not legally entitled to anonymity as there is no link between him and the victim that could lead to her identification.
Sentencing Coffey today, Justice Karen O'Connor said the aggravating factors included that the offending took place in Coffey's home, a place where the victim had been invited and should have been safe.
The judge noted that it was 'important to remember' that consent to sexual activity can be withdrawn. She added that the jury heard evidence during the trial that there was consent to certain sexual activity, but not to anal sex.
The judge set a headline sentence of seven years, which she reduced to six years, having considered the mitigation and Coffey's personal circumstances.
She suspended the final nine months of the sentence on strict conditions, including that Coffey place himself under the supervision of the probation service for 12 months post-release, and backdated the sentence to when he entered custody in March.
The court heard the pair had met on an online dating website and had arranged to go for drinks on the evening in question, but Coffey asked the woman to come to his house instead as he needed to have a shower.
Detective Garda Seán Carrick told the court that the pair had some drinks in Coffey's bedroom as the woman did not wish to meet his mother.
They started engaging in consensual sexual activity, but Coffey said he didn't want to use a condom and instead asked the woman if he could 'fuck (her) in the ass'.
The woman refused, saying she had never done this before and had no wish to do so.
They had consensual vaginal sex, but Coffey kept pestering the woman to let him have anal sex with her.
The court heard the woman told Coffey he did not have legal consent to have anal sex with her, later telling gardaí she could not have been more clear in relation to her wishes.
Advertisement
At one point, when Coffey went to the bathroom, she got dressed, but Coffey told her she couldn't leave and persuaded her to come back to bed.
While there, he inserted a finger in her anus and then anally raped her.
The woman was terrified, and Coffey had his arms around her chest to the point where she felt like she was choking. She managed to escape the bed, and left the house quickly.
She then blocked Coffey on the dating website and WhatsApp, and when he phoned her repeatedly, she blocked his number.
She contacted the rape crisis centre and gardaí shortly afterwards and was taken to a sexual assault treatment unit.
When Coffey's home was searched, gardaí found five tasers and a quantity of cannabis.
He was convicted of these offences and has a total of eight previous convictions, the court heard.
Gardaí also seized his phone and saw messages Coffey had sent to his brother and friends.
In his plea of mitigation, Seamus Clarke SC, defending, said a psychological report prepared for the court indicated that Coffey potentially had a form of autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, in addition to mental health issues.
The report concluded that if Coffey addressed his poor mental health and potential neurodivergence and addiction issues, he would then be at a lower risk of re-offending.
Clarke said his client had written a letter to the court stating that this offending was out of character for him and does not reflect the kind of person he is.
'I have come to understand that my understanding of consent is flawed,' Coffey said in the letter, adding that he prides himself on being respectful and kind to everyone he meets.
'I am not a bad person and I never intended to cause harm,' Coffey continued, before he said he was deeply sorry for the hurt he had caused.
He said he hopes he can also move forward 'with compassion and accountability'.
Clarke told the court that Coffey now accepts that he was wrong and didn't have the woman's consent, despite the fact that the probation report concluded that while he accepts the jury's verdict, he is not accepting responsibility for the rape.
Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article.
Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.
Learn More
Support The Journal
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Journal
6 hours ago
- The Journal
Man jailed for five years for rape and sexual assault of woman on first date
A MAN WHO anally raped a woman on their first date, despite her telling him repeatedly he did not have her legal consent to do so, has been jailed for five years and three months. 37-year-old Gary Coffey, formerly of Leinster Road West, Dublin, was found guilty by a jury of one count of anal rape and one count of sexually assaulting the woman at his home address in January 2023 following a Central Criminal Court trial in March this year. The court heard the victim in the case wished to keep her anonymity and did not wish for Coffey to be named. However, he is not legally entitled to anonymity as there is no link between him and the victim that could lead to her identification. Sentencing Coffey today, Justice Karen O'Connor said the aggravating factors included that the offending took place in Coffey's home, a place where the victim had been invited and should have been safe. The judge noted that it was 'important to remember' that consent to sexual activity can be withdrawn. She added that the jury heard evidence during the trial that there was consent to certain sexual activity, but not to anal sex. The judge set a headline sentence of seven years, which she reduced to six years, having considered the mitigation and Coffey's personal circumstances. She suspended the final nine months of the sentence on strict conditions, including that Coffey place himself under the supervision of the probation service for 12 months post-release, and backdated the sentence to when he entered custody in March. The court heard the pair had met on an online dating website and had arranged to go for drinks on the evening in question, but Coffey asked the woman to come to his house instead as he needed to have a shower. Detective Garda Seán Carrick told the court that the pair had some drinks in Coffey's bedroom as the woman did not wish to meet his mother. They started engaging in consensual sexual activity, but Coffey said he didn't want to use a condom and instead asked the woman if he could 'fuck (her) in the ass'. The woman refused, saying she had never done this before and had no wish to do so. They had consensual vaginal sex, but Coffey kept pestering the woman to let him have anal sex with her. The court heard the woman told Coffey he did not have legal consent to have anal sex with her, later telling gardaí she could not have been more clear in relation to her wishes. Advertisement At one point, when Coffey went to the bathroom, she got dressed, but Coffey told her she couldn't leave and persuaded her to come back to bed. While there, he inserted a finger in her anus and then anally raped her. The woman was terrified, and Coffey had his arms around her chest to the point where she felt like she was choking. She managed to escape the bed, and left the house quickly. She then blocked Coffey on the dating website and WhatsApp, and when he phoned her repeatedly, she blocked his number. She contacted the rape crisis centre and gardaí shortly afterwards and was taken to a sexual assault treatment unit. When Coffey's home was searched, gardaí found five tasers and a quantity of cannabis. He was convicted of these offences and has a total of eight previous convictions, the court heard. Gardaí also seized his phone and saw messages Coffey had sent to his brother and friends. In his plea of mitigation, Seamus Clarke SC, defending, said a psychological report prepared for the court indicated that Coffey potentially had a form of autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, in addition to mental health issues. The report concluded that if Coffey addressed his poor mental health and potential neurodivergence and addiction issues, he would then be at a lower risk of re-offending. Clarke said his client had written a letter to the court stating that this offending was out of character for him and does not reflect the kind of person he is. 'I have come to understand that my understanding of consent is flawed,' Coffey said in the letter, adding that he prides himself on being respectful and kind to everyone he meets. 'I am not a bad person and I never intended to cause harm,' Coffey continued, before he said he was deeply sorry for the hurt he had caused. He said he hopes he can also move forward 'with compassion and accountability'. Clarke told the court that Coffey now accepts that he was wrong and didn't have the woman's consent, despite the fact that the probation report concluded that while he accepts the jury's verdict, he is not accepting responsibility for the rape. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Times
9 hours ago
- Irish Times
Fights recorded on doorbell camera and mobile phones culminated in man's death, murder trial told
A series of fights that ended with a man dying from a stab wound to the neck was recorded on CCTV, by neighbours using mobile phones and by a Ring doorbell, the Central Criminal Court has heard. Bernard Condon SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, on Friday told a jury they will view a 17-second CCTV clip of the moment when Joseph Lawlor (39) stabbed Michael Ryan (51) in the neck, cutting his carotid artery and causing his death. Mr Condon told the jury that both men had been drinking heavily together before the fight, which was the third physical altercation between them that night. Counsel said he expects it will be a straightforward task to find that Mr Lawlor inflicted the fatal wound, but it will be for the jury to determine Mr Lawlor's intention at the time of the killing. Mr Lawlor has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Michael Ryan at Hampton Wood Way, St Margaret's Road, Finglas, Dublin 11, on June 20th, 2024. READ MORE In his opening address this afternoon, Mr Condon told the jury that Mr Lawlor and Mr Ryan were drinking at the accused man's home in Hampton Wood Way from early in the day on Wednesday, June 19th, last year. The first physical altercation between them happened at about 8.30pm and was caught on CCTV covering the area outside Mr Lawlor's home and by a neighbour using his mobile phone. One witness will say that the 'younger man seemed to knock the older man to the ground' before gardaí intervened. Gardaí noted that they were intoxicated, but neither man wanted matters to go further, Mr Condon said. After gardaí had left, three more men joined Mr Lawlor and Mr Ryan at the house, before another fight broke out at about 9.30pm. One of the three men who had arrived appeared to be refereeing the fight, which was also recorded on CCTV and by neighbours using mobile phones, Mr Condon said. In the recordings, Mr Condon said Mr Lawlor can be heard calling Mr Ryan a 'rat' and saying, 'I'm going to stab out' before telling Mr Ryan: 'I love you too much, I'm not going to stab you, you're my friend.' Mr Lawlor got the better of Mr Ryan, counsel said, and Mr Ryan went to his car, where gardaí arrested him for being drunk in charge of a vehicle at about 9.50pm. Having been brought to a Garda station to be processed on that charge, Mr Ryan returned to Mr Lawlor's house shortly after midnight. A neighbour's Ring doorbell picked up Mr Ryan saying through a window of Mr Lawlor's home that he wanted his watch back. He also threatened to flick 'pineapples', which Mr Condon said is slang for grenades, through the window. About 20 minutes later, both men were again captured on CCTV on the street, where Mr Ryan can be seen carrying a bag. Mr Condon added: 'It seems Mr Lawlor is coming at him with quite a big knife and you will see a 17-second clip that shows Mr Ryan swinging a bag at Mr Lawlor and Mr Lawlor raising his knife-wielding hand and striking Mr Ryan on the neck with the knife.' His carotid artery cut, Mr Ryan died a quick death, Mr Condon said. Mr Condon told the jury that murder is an unlawful killing where the accused person intends to kill or cause serious injury. For murder, he said, the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that when he inflicted the fatal wound, the accused intended to kill or cause serious injury. The trial continues on Monday before Ms Justice Karen O'Connor and a jury of five women and seven men.
Dublin Live
10 hours ago
- Dublin Live
On-the-run teen arrested in AirBnB after escaping Dublin garda station
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info An on-the-run teen who escaped from a Garda station in north Dublin and is suspected of committing crimes while being at large has been arrested after he was discovered asleep in an AirBnB in the midlands - with a suspected stolen vehicle outside. The 19-year-old thug - who is a relative of paralysed Drogheda feud mob boss Owen Maguire - is due to appear before the district court in the Criminal Courts of Justice this morning. It's alleged he jumped over the wall at Balbriggan Garda Station on Wednesday, April 23 after he was arrested for alleged criminal offences. He had appeared before Balbriggan District Court earlier that day on charges of burglary, unauthorised taking of a vehicle and theft of fuel from a service station. Bail was refused after the prosecuting garda told the judge "no conditions of bail would be acceptable." While gardai were processing the teen's prison warrant at the garda station, it's believed the thug was allowed outside to have a cigarette but managed to jump the wall of the garda station. He continued to be a fugitive until Thursday, June 19 when he was arrested. It's suspected he continued on a crime rampage - until Thursday - when a number armed gardai from Dublin discovered him in an AirBnB in the midlands. A BMW, suspected of being stolen from outside a property in Mayo, was also discovered outside the property. While on the run, the 19-year-old - who is suspected of committing a number of burglaries and car thefts while on the run - taunted gardai by posting videos of members of the force going about their a statement An Garda Siochana said: "Gardaí investigating the escape from Garda custody of a male, aged in his late teens, on 23rd April arrested the male on Thursday, June 19 who is detained at a Garda Station in Dublin. "He has been charged in relation to this incident and is due to appear before Dublin District Court at the Criminal Courts of Justice (Court No. 5) on Friday June 20 at 10.30am. Investigations are ongoing." Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
