This article contains references to rape involving a teenager. Reader discretion is advised.
By Fiona Ferguson
A Clare resident who raped a teenage girl he had befriended online, despite her telling him in advance that she did not want to have sex, has been given a seven year sentence.
Geoffrey Kumah (27) raped the then 17-year-old girl at his accommodation. She told the court Kumah had robbed her of her innocence and described feeling like she had to “act normal” afterwards for her own safety. She said it took a talk with a friend to realise it was wrong.
She said Kumah will serve his time and eventually be free but his actions will haunt her for the rest of her life. “You reap what you sow and I pray you live the life you deserve,” she told Kumah.
The Central Court heard 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 following a trial in Limerick in May 2024. The offence occurred at a former address Park Avenue, Ennis, on October 21, 2018. He has no previous convictions.
Passing sentence on Friday, Mr Justice Michael MacGrath commended the young woman for her eloquent, brave and courageous victim impact statement. He said it was clear she had been significantly traumatised and harmed by the offending.
Mr Justice MacGrath said during the hearing, the court had to consider the personal circumstances of the convicted person and it may seem to the injured party and others that her position is not considered to the same extent.
The judge said he was acutely conscious of the pain she continues to experience and said he could only hope it will ease. He noted she had great support from her family and hoped that would help her in recovering from this awful ordeal as best she could.
He noted in sentencing the aggravating factors included a repeated failure to heed numerous vocalisations of “no.” He said Kumah had taken advantage of her innocence and young age, against a background of messages prior to their first meeting.
Mr Justice MacGrath set a headline sentence of eight and half years before considering mitigation.
He took into account his lack of previous convictions, his family situation and lack of immediate family in Ireland which may result in additional hardship. He noted his work history and education.
The judge attached limited weight to Kumah’s recent acceptance of the jury verdict in light of the effects of the trial process on the young woman.
He reduced the sentence to seven years imprisonment and suspended the final six months.
A prosecuting garda told Paul Carroll SC, prosecuting, that Kumah sent a friend request on Facebook to the teenager and they continued to communicate via snapchat.
Kumah asked the girl if she would like to meet up. She asked him if he “expected anything” and told him she would not “do anything” until she knew him better. He affirmed that he would be fine with not doing anything.
They later made arrangements for him to pick her up and he drove her to his residence.
The court heard Kumah raped the girl following consensual kissing, despite her telling him she did not wish to take part in intercourse, attempting to push him off and asking him to stop numerous times.
The girls said in her victim impact statement that she felt she had to “act normal” afterwards for her own safety. Kumah then drove her home.
In a subsequent social media exchange, the girl told Kumah that he had forced the sexual activity on her and failed to stop when she asked him to. He replied that he was sorry and wouldn’t do it next time. She told him there would not be a next time.
The young woman spoke to a friend and a counsellor before reporting the matter to gardaí.
In her victim impact statement, the young woman told how she had been working to improve her mental health at the time and Kumah had ruined it all in matter of hours. She said he had taken her voice, autonomy and body, which he used despite being told no.
The young woman described how she thought she would fight in such a situation to defend herself, but instead she froze. She said his coolness and casualness had her questioning herself and it took a conversation with her best friend to realise how wrong it was.
She said she is in a constant state of fight or flight and pushes people away or takes her feeling out on them. She said her life had been turned upside down.
She described the terror of going to the gardai, of having to expose herself again for sexual examination and the trauma of the court process. She said she felt she had been the one on trial.
“My brain can not grasp there is this type of evil so close to home,” she said.
She said she had decided he had taken enough from her and was trying to cope but still suffers ongoing effects .
Patrick Purcell BL, defending, said Kumah had been born in Ghana and lost his father at an early age. He came to Ireland where he worked in a hotel and sent money home to his mother.
Counsel handed in a number of letters including references from Kumah’s current partner and her mother. They outlined his current relationship in positive terms and indicate he supports a child from a previous relationship. A letter also outlined his involvement with his church activities.
Mr Purcell asked the court to take into account that Kumah had cooperated with gardai, handed over his phone and clothing and responded to questions at interview.
Counsel said Kumah accepts the verdict of the jury. The injured party indicated this was of little consolation to her in view of the trauma she had experienced and continued to endure.