Co Cork Farmer Sentenced to 19 Years for Rape of Male Victim

A 60-year-old farmer from Crookstown, Co Cork, has been sentenced to 19 years in prison for the rape of a man on two separate occasions. However, due to concurrent sentencing, he will serve just under ten years in custody.

Thomas “Tossy” Nyhan, a married father of four, was handed an 11.5-year sentence—one year of which was suspended—for a rape committed in April 2019. He received an additional 8.5-year sentence for a second offence dating back to January 2011. Both attacks occurred in Limerick.

As the sentences will run concurrently, Nyhan will serve only the longer of the two. His jail term was backdated to June 23, 2025, the date he was remanded in custody. Nyhan had no prior criminal convictions.

A jury at the Central Criminal Court, sitting in Limerick, unanimously convicted Nyhan on two counts of anal rape following an 11-day trial held in May. Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring lifted reporting restrictions to allow Nyhan to be publicly identified while preserving the anonymity of the victim.

In an emotional victim impact statement, the survivor described the assaults as “cold, calculated and violent,” adding that “there are not words strong enough to capture the pain.” He recounted how Nyhan had exploited his trust and vulnerabilities, stating, “He raped me twice… he knew what he was doing—and eight years later he did it again.”

The man described the trauma he continues to endure, saying: “I am a ghost of the man I used to be. I am broken, alone.” During one of the assaults, Nyhan reportedly referenced his own children—a detail the victim called “twisted and inhumane.”

The court heard that the victim disclosed the 2019 rape to his general practitioner, which led to a formal complaint to Gardaí. He later revealed the earlier incident from 2011.

The prosecution, led by senior counsel Fionnuala O’Sullivan and barrister Lily Buckley of the Chief State Solicitor’s Office, presented forensic evidence including DNA matching Nyhan to a stain recovered from the 2019 scene. The investigation was conducted by the National Garda Protective Services Bureau at Henry Street Garda Station, which specialises in sexual offences.

Under cross-examination, the victim firmly denied claims made by Nyhan that he had instigated the sexual encounters, describing the defence as “lies” and “bullshit.” He testified that Nyhan overpowered him, ignored his protests, and subjected him to extreme physical and emotional trauma.

Justice Ring described Nyhan’s conduct as “serious and sinister,” emphasising that his knowledge of the victim’s silence after the 2011 assault emboldened him to reoffend in 2019. She stated: “It is clear that Nyhan knew the victim had not told anyone of the 2011 rape, and thus he had the confidence to rape again.”

In mitigation, the court acknowledged Nyhan’s age, lack of criminal history, and health issues. Nonetheless, the judge underscored the gravity of the crimes, ruling that the prison term must reflect the severity and repeated nature of the offences.

The victim, who courageously came forward, urged others affected by sexual violence to seek justice. “Speaking out is one of the hardest things to do,” he said, “but it is powerful and life-changing.”