A West Clare developer convicted of raping a Brazilian woman has been sentenced to seven and a half years in prison after a judge said he couldn't "buy himself out" of a custodial sentence.
Thomas Egan of Cahermurphy, Kilmihill paid over 10,000 euro in court to be forwarded to his victim, who has since returned to Brazil.
47 year old Thomas Egan was convicted last May by a jury at the Central Criminal Court of raping the 23 yearold woman who he had asked to clean his house in Tipperary on July 5th, 2010.
The Kilmihil father of four had denied the charge and told Gardai the sex was consensual and the woman had not shown any fear.
Sentencing Thomas Egan to seven and a half years, Mr Justice Barry White suspended the final three and a half years of noting that the 47 year old had a previous "unblemished record" .
