Man jailed for raping teenager

A CLARE resident who raped a teenager he had befriended online, even though she had previously told him she did not want sex, has been sentenced to seven years in prison.

Geoffrey Kumah, 27, raped the then 17-year-old girl in his accommodation. She testified in court that Kumah robbed her of her innocence and described how she had to “act normal” afterward for her own safety. She said it was only when she spoke to a friend that she realised it was wrong.

She said Kumah will serve his sentence and eventually be released, but his actions will haunt her for the rest of her life. “You reap what you sow, and I pray that you live the life you deserve,” she told Kumah.

The Central Court found that Kumah was 22 years old at the time of the offence.

Kumah, of Showgrounds Court, Drumbiggle Road, Ennis, Co Clare, was convicted of rape by a jury at a trial in Limerick in May 2024. The offence occurred on 21 October 2018 at his previous address of Park Avenue, Ennis. He has no previous convictions.

In passing sentence today, Friday 12 July, Judge Michael MacGrath praised the young woman for her eloquent, brave and courageous victim impact statement. He said it was clear that she had been severely traumatised and damaged by the crime.

Judge MacGrath stated during the hearing that the court must take into account the personal circumstances of the convicted person and that it may give the injured party and others the impression that their situation is not being taken into account to the same extent.

The judge said he was very aware of the pain she was still experiencing and could only hope that it would subside. He noted that she had great support from her family and hoped that this would help her to recover as best as possible from this terrible ordeal.

He noted that aggravating circumstances in the sentencing included multiple “no” answers. He said Kumah had taken advantage of her innocence and young age, against the backdrop of messages before their first meeting.

Judge MacGrath imposed a minimum sentence of eight and a half years before considering mitigation.

He took into account his lack of previous convictions, his family situation and the fact that he had no close relatives in Ireland, which could result in additional hardship. He referred to his employment history and education.

Given the impact of the trial on the young woman, the judge attached limited importance to Kumah’s recent acceptance of the jury’s verdict.

He reduced the sentence to seven years in prison and suspended the last six months.

A Garda prosecutor told Paul Carroll SC, prosecuting, that Kumah had sent the teenager a friend request on Facebook and they continued to communicate on Snapchat.

Kumah asked the girl if she wanted to meet. She asked him if he was “expecting anything” and told him she would “do nothing” until she knew him better. He reiterated that he was OK with doing nothing.

Later they arranged for him to pick her up and he drove her to his apartment.

The court heard that Kumah raped the girl after a consensual kiss, despite her telling him she did not want to have sexual intercourse and despite her trying to push him away and repeatedly telling him to stop.

In her victim impact statement, the girl said she felt she had to “act normally” afterward for her own safety. Kumah then drove her home.

In a subsequent social media exchange, the girl told Kumah that he forced her to perform sexual acts and did not stop when she asked him to. He responded that he was sorry and would not do it again next time. She told him there would be no next time.

The young woman spoke to a friend and a counsellor before reporting the incident to the Gardaí.

In her victim impact statement, the young woman recounted how she had been working on her mental health at the time and how Kumah had ruined it all in a matter of hours. She said he had taken away her voice, her autonomy and her body and used both of them even though she had been forbidden to do so.

The young woman described how she thought she would fight to defend herself in such a situation, but instead she froze. She said his coldness and nonchalance made her doubt herself and it was only after talking to her best friend that she realized how wrong that was.

She said she was in a constant fight-or-flight state, pushing people away or taking her emotions out on them. She said her life had been turned upside down.

She described the fear of going to the police, of having to undergo another sexual examination and the trauma of the court process. She said she felt like she was the one on trial.

“My brain cannot comprehend that this kind of evil exists so close to home,” she said.

She said she has come to the conclusion that he has taken enough from her and is trying to come to terms with it, but is still suffering from the aftereffects.

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Defence counsel Patrick Purcell BL said Kumah was born in Ghana and lost his father at a young age and came to Ireland where he worked in a hotel and sent money home to his mother.

The lawyer submitted a number of letters, including references from Kumah’s current partner and her mother. They described his current relationship in a positive light and stated that he was supporting a child from a previous relationship. One letter also described his involvement in church activities.

Mr Purcell asked the court to take into account that Kumah had cooperated with police, handed over his phone and clothing and answered questions during questioning.

The lawyer said Kumah accepted the jury’s verdict, but the victim said this was little consolation given the trauma she had experienced and continues to endure.