The 25-year-old Limerick man sentenced to 21 years for his role in a gang-rape let himself be led by a 16-year-old, writes Conor Lally.
The Limerick man sentenced to 21 years in prison yesterday for his role in a gang-rape last year is a career criminal with 36 previous convictions.
Stephen Barry (25), of Roxboro Road, Limerick, has served prison sentences for assault and possession of knives. He has also been convicted of larceny, burglary, trespass, threatening people with violence, extortion and with breaching a barring order.
He was part of the group that brutally attacked a couple in Cratloe Woods, Co Clare, 18 months ago.
The last year of Barry's sentence was suspended by Mr Justice Paul Carney at the Central Criminal Court yesterday, leaving the father of one with 20 years to serve. Even with full remission of five years he will not be free until 2019 at the earliest.
He will most likely serve his sentence in Arbour Hill, Dublin, or Limerick Prison. He will be accustomed to the prison routine having been in custody while awaiting sentencing. He has also been in jail for periods of between six and 12 months.
He was by far the eldest member of the five-man gang who raped the 35-year-old female victim and savagely assaulted her 36-year-old male companion and threatened to kill him.
The man managed to kick his way out of a car boot, into which the gang had forced him, and he fought off his attackers.
The injuries he inflicted required at least one of the gang to seek medical assistance at a house near the crime scene, a factor which led to his, and the rest of the gang's, capture. The four other gang members - three 16-year-olds and a 14-year-old - were detained last July for up to 10 years for their roles in the attack.
The female who was raped took the stand yesterday to give her victim impact statement. She said she has simply tried to accept that she would never get over her ordeal. She hoped that one day the terrible memories might fade. Her male companion also briefly relayed his distress to the court, saying he had been deeply affected by the events.
The evidence presented during Barry's sentencing yesterday, and during the teenagers' case last year, shocked even the most hardened investigators and observers.
In the early hours of January 23rd, the gang robbed an off-licence in Limerick and stole a vehicle. They drove to Cratloe Woods where, at around 3.30am, they found the couple at a secluded spot. The gang used the vehicle to block the couple's car in. They then set about their attack which lasted for an hour.
Armed with a golf club, a screw driver, a wheel brace and a shovel, the gang threatened the couple, demanding their mobile phones and wallets. They then forced the man into the boot of the car. They took turns at raping the woman. The gang taunted the man. "We're raping your bird," one of the five told him.
Judge Carney yesterday told Barry he allowed himself to be led by the gang leader, 16-year-old Thomas O'Neill from Lenihan Ave, Limerick. He told Barry his greater age should have marked him out as the leader and he should have intervened to stop the attack.