An Offaly man was sentenced to 14 and a half years in prison after being found guilty of coercively controlling, raping, abusing, and fraudulently imprisoning his ex-partner, reports Breaking News.
In her victim impact statement to the Central Criminal Court, Lisa O’Meara, who gave up her identity to allow the identification of her rapist Barry Murphy, stated that she was unsure whether she was more troubled by her memories or by the things she had forgotten.
“I am proud of myself for being here,” she told the court. “You thought you were untouchable and I would be forever under your control,” she said, telling Murphy she was now looking forward to a happy and bright future, reports Breaking News.
The court heard that before Ms. O’Meara fled to the house of a friend, the front door of the couple’s house was “riveted shut,” and she had no way to communicate with the outside world.
Ms. O’Meara forced her way out of the house the night following the last sexual assault and rape. She managed to leave the house and escape in a cab after waiting for Murphy to go to sleep, reports Breaking News.
At a trial earlier this year in Tullamore, a jury found 39-year-old Murphy of Grogan, Ballycumber, Co. Offaly, guilty on three charges of raping Ms. O’Meara between February 8, 2018, and February 24, 2020.
Additionally, he was found guilty of controlling her under duress for eighteen months, from January 1, 2019, to July 4, 2020, reports Breaking News.
In addition, he was found guilty of three counts of assault causing her harm in 2018, 2019, and 2020, one act of sexual assault in 2020, and one count of false imprisonment in 2020. A second count of wrongful imprisonment was dropped against him.
With the exception of one attack that was carried out overseas while on vacation, the offences took place at places in County Offaly.
He has a history of convictions for public order and traffic violations, reports Breaking News.
The prosecutor, Timothy O’Leary SC, attested to Ms. O’Meara’s desire to forego anonymity.
Mr. Justice Kerida Naidoo, who handed down the sentence on Monday, remarked that the gardaí were actively searching for Ms. O’Meara at the time due to their concerns, reports Breaking News.
He mentioned that one garda had “the admirable professional insight” to record one of Ms. O’Meara’s complaints because he was worried she could try to take it back later.
Since Ms. O’Meara attempted to subsequently retract her complaint and the jury saw the footage of her statement during the trial, Mr. Justice Naidoo claimed that the garda was “justified,” reports Breaking News.
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