Woman fined after admitting false rape claim

A judge severely criticised a young woman yesterday and fined her €1,000 after she falsely claimed she was raped while using her phone.
Sinead Morrow, who was 19 at the time, was a willing participant in sex, Donegal District Court was told.
But when her 35-year-old bed-partner committed an act she didn’t like, she reported a rape on the advice of friends.
Morrow, of Bridgtown, Laghey, admitted making a false statement to gardai claiming an offence had been committed.
She made the statement on November 14, 2010 at Donegal Garda station.
Inspector Dennis Joyce said that as a result of her statement a suspect was arrested. He indicated that it was consensual sex and the girl was on the phone during sexual activity.
Later, she was re-interviewed, and in the course of four statements she admitted the rape claim had been false.
Judge Kevin Kilrane said he had no doubt consensual sex took place and then the girl made a false report to gardai.
Traced phone messages tended to endorse the gentleman’s version as the truth.
Otherwise he would have ended up in the Circuit Criminal Court and he would have been convicted and likely sentenced to six years.
The judge also said the girl had done tremendous damage to genuine victims of rape whose accounts risked being undermined.