Galway Bay fm newsroom - The Court of Appeal has handed down an increased sentence to a Loughrea man over a violent rape in 2018.
It was argued that Costel Pirvu received an "extraordinary" sentence discount in his original sentencing, because he can't speak English.
39 year old Costel Pirvu, formerly of Kilreekil, Loughrea, was jailed for six and a half years last year.
In the early hours of February 4th, 2018, he approached and chased a 19 year old woman walking home after a night socialising with friends, and violently raped her.
He then forced her back to his apartment where he raped her a further two times.
He was given a reduced prison sentence of six and a half years due to the fact he cannot speak English and therefore prison life would be difficult for him.
In the Court of Appeal, the state argued it was an extraordinary and unduly lenient discount
Mr Justice George Birmingham has now ruled that the discount was excessive - noting the court found it surprising the trial judge has placed "little emphasis" on a previous conviction for attempted rape.
He further said a probation report describing Pirvu's attitude towards his victim was "very disturbing" and he had shown no remorse for the crime.
It was also noted that the report described him as being at a very high risk of sexual offending
Justice Birmingham said the court would quash the original jail sentence, and substitute it with a sentence of ten years, with the final year-and-a-half suspended.
