John McDonagh, the murderer of a Connemara schoolgirl has been jailed for 10 years for her rape.
On June 17th McDonagh (27), of The Demesne, Carraroe, Co Galway, was convicted of the rape and murder of Siobhan Hynes (17), at Tishmean beach, Carraroe, on December 6th, 1998.
He was automatically sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder, and sentencing was adjourned on the rape conviction.
Yesterday Mr Justice Smith jailed McDonagh for 10 years for the rape. He ruled that both sentences run concurrently and refused leave to appeal.
McDonagh raped Siobhan Hynes with an object and then dumped her in a rocky inlet, where her body was found the next day. The teenager died from drowning and compression of the neck.
The judge detailed evidence of a "most cruel" rape and backdated the sentence to the date of the guilty verdict.
The defence has lodged papers of its intent to appeal the murder conviction, and Mr Barry White SC, defending, announced yesterday that he also intended to appeal the rape conviction. "This is a case in which the accused maintained at all times his innocence and continues to do so," he told the court.
After the hearing Siobhan's parents, Mr Aindi and Mrs Brid Hynes, expressed disappointment at the sentence. Mrs Hynes said she had hoped McDonagh would get life, but added: "No sentence will bring her back."