[ad_1]
Mother-of-five attacked by friend’s husband as he escorted her homeAidan Kestell was jailed for seven-and-a half years
Kestell was jailed for seven-and-a-half years on Friday for the rape of Paula Doyle, a friend of his wife’s, on September 6, 2019, at Hartstown Park, Hartstown, Dublin 15.
The schemer, who attacked Paula as he was walking her home from a party at his house, would later tell a series of shocking lies to gardaí in a bid to cover up his guilt, including the ludicrous claim that “sex took place accidentally after he fell on top of her with his penis exposed”.
The court heard the attack left Paula a ‘walking corpse’ in its aftermath.
The jury saw through the duplicitous predator’s ridiculous lies, with Judge Mr Justice Tony Hunt setting a headline sentence of nine years for the rape on Friday as he ordered that Kestell ‘pay a serious price’ for his crime.
“The actions of the predator that is Aidan Kestell have caused me immense suffering,” Paula told the Sunday World in a statement handed over afterwards.
“During the investigation it was found that the vile texts, photos, videos and stalking I had been subjected to for three-and-a-half years prior to the rape were from him too.
“He even had the audacity to drive up and down the cul-de-sac where I live since the attack.
“I believe in innocent until proven guilty, but I also believe there’s not enough being done to protect the victim who has already had their world destroyed.”
Paula described Kestell as a ‘manipulative and calculated individual with no conscience.”
Paula Doyle
“You are a worthless individual and I dare not put you in the same bracket as other normal men.
“I am so relieved you now cannot prey, touch, or hurt another woman and I do believe this country is a safer place without you in it. You are now and will forever be known as a sex offender. ”
Kestell (55) was convicted of rape after a four-day trial at the Central Criminal Court last month.
Garda Leona Bellow told the court Paula was a long-standing friend of Kestell’s wife and was among the guests at a party in his house on the night in question
When she was leaving, her friend insisted Kestell walk her home. She was reluctant but eventually agreed. Paula stopped several times during the walk to tell Kestell she was fine and could walk the rest of the way alone, but he insisted on walking with her.
After reaching Hartstown Park, the next thing Paula remembered was lying on the ground in agony.
She realised she was being raped, and she then tried to fight off her attacker, who she realised was Kestell.
After he left, Paula made her way home, arriving around 3am.
The court heard the woman spent the weekend trying to process what had happened before going to a friend’s house the following Monday and telling her.
She then contacted a sexual assault treatment unit and made a complaint to gardaí.
Kestell was arrested and interviewed several times. He initially denied any sexual interaction with the victim before claiming that she initiated sexual contact by performing oral sex.
In another interview, he claimed sex took place accidentally after he fell on top of her with his penis exposed. Kestell told gardaí: “I’m not sure if I entered her… the ground was wet and slippy, I could have slipped in.”
At his sentencing hearing, Mr Justice Hunt noted that Kestell had first denied the offences and then gave a “grudging acceptance” that it had come about in “a preposterous way.”
Mr Justice Hunt said his actions were intentional, and there was nothing reckless about it.
In her statement, Paula praised Mr Justice Hunt, the jury, and the gardaí for how they all handled her case. She also praised her family and friends.
“To my partner, my five incredible children and my bestest of friends, you know you are my lifesavers, and I wouldn’t be here today without you.
“I know my journey is not over, but I have spent 1,651 days since the attack looking over my shoulder, holding my breath and putting my life on hold. This part of my ordeal is now over, and I can finally begin to work on myself and on my recovery… Today I am no longer a victim but a real survivor.”
Helplines: If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, click here for more information
[ad_2]
Source link
