Rape sentence reduced by three years on appeal

A 12-year jail sentence imposed on a man two years ago after he was convicted of the double-rape of a student whom he picked …

A 12-year jail sentence imposed on a man two years ago after he was convicted of the double-rape of a student whom he picked up in his car while posing as ahackney driver has been reduced to nine years by the Court of Criminal Appeal.

Daniel Moynihan, now 21, of Raheen East, Rathmore, had pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to two charges of raping the woman on December 2nd, 2000 and to assault causing her harm.

He was given a 12-year sentence for the rape while a concurrent five-year sentence was imposed on the assault charge.

Granting Moynihan's appeal against severity of sentence yesterday, MsJustice McGuinness, sitting with Ms Justice Carroll and Mr JusticeGilligan, said the court would replace the original sentence with one ofnine years.