A Dublin man was jailed for seven years for rape at the Central Criminal Court yesterday. Derek Kelly (29), of St Nicholas Place, The Coombe, pleaded guilty to raping a woman at Windsor Terrace in Dublin on July 21st, 1995.
Kelly absconded after he was charged and was extradited.
Garda Anne Marie O'Sull ivan told Mr Patrick Gageby SC, prosecuting, that the 28year-old victim met Kelly at Rumours nightclub. Kelly invited her to go with him to Harold's Cross for something to eat but directed the taxi to his address. There he said there was a party, but he locked her in his room and beat her when she tried to reject his advances and raped her. He also threatened to kill her. Mr Brendan Grogan SC, defending, said Kelly accepted the evidence given on behalf of the victim. She was blameless and should not have had to endure her ordeal.
Mr Justice Carney said he noted "purely as a matter of fact" that a good number of the cases dealt with by the court seemed to have their origins in Rumours disco.