A Co Offaly man convicted of raping, coercively controlling, assaulting, and falsely imprisoning his former partner has been jailed for 14½ years.

Lisa O’Meara, who waived her right to anonymity so that Barry Murphy (39) could be named, said in a victim impact statement to the Central Criminal Court that she was not sure if she was more haunted by what she remembered of the relationship or what she had blocked out.

'You thought you were untouchable and I would be forever under your control,' she told Murphy, adding that she was proud of herself for getting to this point and looking forward to a bright future.

The court heard the front door of the couple’s home was 'riveted shut' and Ms O’Meara had no means of communication with the outside world.

She escaped to the home of an acquaintance the night after the final rape and sexual assault.

She waited until Murphy fell asleep before managing to exit the house and get away in a taxi.

Murphy, of Grogan, Ballycumber, was convicted by a jury after a trial in Tullamore earlier this year of three counts of raping Ms O’Meara on dates between February 8th, 2018 and February 24th, 2020.

He was also convicted of coercively controlling his former partner between January 1st, 2019 and July 4th, 2020.

He was further convicted of one count of sexually assaulting her in 2020, three counts of assault causing her harm in 2018, 2019, and 2020, and one count of falsely imprisoning Ms O’Meara in 2020.

He was acquitted of a further count of false imprisonment.

The offences occurred at locations in Co Offaly, apart from one assault which was committed abroad on a holiday.

Murphy has a number of previous convictions for road traffic and public order offences, the court heard.

Passing sentence on Monday, Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo noted that the gardaí had concerns for Ms O’Meara and were actively looking for her at the time.

He said one garda had 'the admirable professional insight' to record one of Ms O’Meara’s statements of complaint as he had concerns that she would attempt to withdraw it later.

Mr Justice Naidoo said the garda was 'justified' as Ms O’Meara did try to withdraw her complaint later and the video of her statement was played to the jury during the trial.

He said the three rapes and the sexual assault happened 'for all intents and purposes when Ms O’Meara was a hostage in the house'.

He said Murphy restricted Ms O’Meara’s 'movement and her liberty' and that it was committed over a two-year period in the context of ongoing conduct which amounted to coercive control.

The judge set a headline sentence of 17 years for the rape offences.

He said the coercive control offence warranted a headline sentence of four years, while the assault offences warranted a headline sentence of between 3½ and five years.

He said the false imprisonment deserved a headline sentence of six years, while he gave the sexual assault offences a headline sentence of 5½ years.

In terms of mitigation, the judge said Murphy did not plead guilty, does not accept the jury’s verdict, and has not shown remorse.

He acknowledged testimonials before the court describing Murphy as a good father and a successful businessman who provides employment in his locality.

Mr Justice Naidoo imposed a global sentence of 15½ years after he said that all the sentences would run concurrently.

He suspended the last year of the term on strict conditions.

Speaking outside the court, Ms O’Meara said: 'I’m glad I got justice for myself, it’s the best thing to come out of an awful situation.

And I hope women in a similar situation will take from this that they can get out of a bad relationship, an abusive relationship, and get justice for themselves too.

' 'Don’t be afraid.

Just leave, you have to leave, don’t stay, because it doesn’t get better.

It just gets worse and worse.

I just say to every woman out there: don’t be afraid, speak up.'