Man Found Guilty of Raping Spanish Tourist in Dublin on New Year’s Eve 2019

 Dublin, March 7, 2025 – A 33-year-old man has been convicted of raping a Spanish tourist in Dublin city centre during New Year’s Eve celebrations six years ago.

Christopher O’Grady, formerly of Muirhevnamor, Dundalk, Co Louth, was found guilty by a Central Criminal Court jury on Thursday. He had denied the charge of raping the then 19-year-old woman on January 1, 2019. At the time, O’Grady was homeless and is currently in custody.

The court heard that O’Grady led the woman to a secluded area near Dublin Castle, where the attack took place. The prosecution argued that she did not consent and was incapable of consenting due to intoxication.

After deliberations that began on Wednesday, the jury returned a guilty verdict. Ms. Justice Caroline Biggs thanked the jurors for their service and scheduled sentencing for June 19.

Case Details and Trial Testimony

During the trial, prosecutor Tony McGillicuddy SC described O’Grady’s actions as "menacing and predatory," saying he lured the victim off the main streets of Dublin to assault her.

The woman, a Spanish student, had traveled to Dublin to celebrate New Year’s Eve and had gone to see the fireworks with a friend. After becoming separated, she encountered O’Grady outside a shop while trying to find her way to a bar.

She testified that O’Grady walked her through town to a car park, where the rape occurred. She recalled feeling “like a doll”, stating that she had no strength in her body during the assault.

Following the attack, she walked back through the city with O’Grady for approximately 40 minutes before encountering a couple outside a shop. At that point, she parted ways with him.

Additional Testimony and Legal Arguments

The woman later spent the night at a B&B with another man, where they engaged in anal sex. She testified that it was painful, and she eventually persuaded him to stop.

CCTV footage of this encounter, recorded in the B&B hallway, was played in court. Justice Biggs warned the jury that the footage was "intrusive and distressing" but stated that it was necessary to view it as part of O’Grady’s constitutional right to present evidence.

When the woman woke the next morning, she realized she had been raped twice and sought medical attention. However, no charges have been filed against the second man, who testified during the trial.

During closing arguments, Mr. McGillicuddy emphasized that the case against O’Grady was distinct from the woman’s later sexual encounter, stating that the jury’s focus should be on whether she was capable of consenting during the timeframe between 1:40 AM and 2:17 AM.

In his defense, Padraig Dwyer SC argued that there were “bizarre elements” to the case and pointed out "huge similarities" between both sexual encounters, as both took place in semi-private, semi-public settings. He suggested that if the second man’s actions had also been recorded on video, he might have faced trial as well.

Following the guilty verdict, O’Grady remains in custody awaiting sentencing on June 19, 2025