A man has admitted to anally raping his wife after she refused to engage in anal sex at their home in Co Waterford in December 2024. The man initially gave various explanations to the police, including claiming that his wife had consented to the act and had done so previously. He also suggested that the injuries sustained by his wife may have been self-inflicted.
During the trial, the man eventually confessed to his crime while his wife was testifying, contradicting his earlier claims of consensual activity. The Central Criminal Court heard that the man took advantage of his wife’s consent to sexual activity, despite her explicit refusal of anal sex. The judge sentenced him to seven years in prison, with the final year suspended on the condition of supervision by the Probation Service.
The incident occurred after the couple had been watching a movie and drinking whiskey at home. Despite the woman’s refusal to engage in anal sex again, the man proceeded to rape her anally while she believed they were going to have regular intercourse. Subsequently, the woman reported the assault to the police after discovering she was bleeding. The accused was later arrested at Dublin Airport as he attempted to leave the country.
The victim chose not to provide a victim impact statement and did not attend the court session. She testified via video link during the trial. The defendant expressed remorse and issued an apology, with his defense counsel emphasizing that there had been prior consent to sexual activity before the assault. The lawyer also highlighted the defendant’s guilty plea before the victim’s cross-examination as a sign of acknowledgment and remorse.