The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) has “strongly welcomed” a sentence of 17 years for rape handed down today (25 July) to Raymond Shorten, which will run consecutively to his 13-year sentence earlier this week for the rape of a child.

The 50-year-old taxi driver was given the 17-year sentence for raping two young women on separate nights in 2022.

“We are also very thankful for the ruling by Mr Justice Paul McDermott that this sentence will run consecutively to the 13-year sentence given earlier this week for his rape of a seven-year-old girl,” said DRCC chief executive Rachel Morrogh.

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“The total jail term of 30 years is effectively equivalent to a life sentence. It is another significant sentence given by the courts in recent weeks to perpetrators of sexual offences and should give great hope to people going through the justice system that this most heinous crime will be punished by lengthy imprisonment,” she added.

“It is the hope of Dublin Rape Crisis Centre that the trend of substantial sentences being handed down for sexual crimes continues, and that this will encourage more victims to report to gardai,” Morrogh stated.