TREVOR CASEY SENTENCED TO 13 YEARS FOR RAPE OF TEEN SISTERS IN CO CORK

In April 2008, a man named Trevor Casey from Co Cork was sentenced to a lengthy prison term after being convicted of heinous crimes involving two teenage sisters. The case drew significant media attention due to the severity of the offenses and the impact on the victims and their families.

Trevor Casey, aged 31 at the time, was found guilty by a jury in February of that year on eight charges, which included four counts of rape and four counts of sexual assault. These crimes were committed against the two girls, who were aged 14 and 16 at the time, during incidents that took place in 2003 and 2004 at three different addresses within Cork. The addresses were located in the Closes Road and Fairhill areas of Cork city.

Initially, Casey pleaded not guilty to 14 charges at the start of his trial. However, the jury was unable to reach a verdict on three of those counts, and he was acquitted of three others, with two of these acquittals being directed by the judge. The victims and their family members publicly expressed their desire for Casey to be named in media reports concerning the case, emphasizing the importance of transparency and justice.

During the trial, both victims provided harrowing testimonies, recounting how Casey had raped them after they awoke to find him in their beds. Casey, in his defense, claimed that he had never engaged in any sexual relationship with either girl. He also described as 'sick' the allegation that he had abused one of the girls while his own son was sleeping in the same room.

Throughout the proceedings, Casey’s defense lawyer, Tim O’Leary, argued that his client maintained his innocence. He highlighted that Casey came from a family highly regarded in Cork, presenting testimonials from prominent local figures to support this claim. O’Leary emphasized that Casey’s background was one of good standing and that this should be considered in mitigation. He warned that a lengthy sentence would have devastating consequences not only for Casey but also for his parents.

Meanwhile, the prosecution described the crimes as being at the upper end of the severity scale, noting that some of the sexual assaults could warrant sentences of up to 14 years. They also pointed out that in some instances, other juveniles were present during the offenses, which added to the gravity of the case. The court was informed that the younger victim had been admitted to psychiatric care multiple times due to the trauma inflicted by Casey. She had kept a diary in which she detailed her suffering, including entries such as “Leave me alone” and “I wish I was dead,” reflecting the profound psychological impact of the abuse.

Judge Mr. Justice Patrick McCarthy ordered that Casey’s name be added to the sex offenders register, emphasizing that rehabilitation could only be achieved if the offender accepted responsibility for his actions. Unfortunately, Casey did not show remorse or accept accountability. The judge acknowledged personal letters from Labour TD Kathleen Lynch and former Cork Lord Mayor John Murray, which attested to Casey’s family’s good reputation. However, he noted that these did little to mitigate the severity of the crimes.

In sentencing, the judge imposed a series of concurrent and consecutive terms. For the earlier rape charges involving the eldest victim, he sentenced Casey to six years concurrently, followed by an additional seven years for later offenses against her. For the second victim, he imposed a consecutive seven-year term. The total sentence was 14 years, but the judge suspended the final year, effectively making the sentence 13 years in prison. Additionally, Casey received four-year concurrent sentences for the sexual assault charges. The court’s decision reflects the gravity of the crimes committed in Co Cork and underscores the importance of justice for the victims involved.