Rapist gets five year term

The man was jailed at Belfast Crown Court

A rapist who claimed to have links with the dissident republican Real IRA has been jailed for five years and put on the police sex offenders register for life.

Michael John Breen, 28, from University Avenue, Belfast, admitted raping one girl and was also convicted of indecently assaulting her friend.

The incidents happened after he tricked his way into their flat following an end of term party in June 2000 after claiming he had "nowhere else to go".

At Belfast Crown Court on Monday, Breen was jailed for five years on condition that he serve a year's probation on his release.

Swift arrest

Judge Patrick Markey QC said while he had been drunk at the time, he had also been "acting in a cute and manipulative way".

The court heard that Breen threatened to "get the boys round" if his victim and her friend reported the matter to police.

But it was said the two girls ignored Breen's threats and it was due to their quick actions in reporting the attacks which lead to his swift arrest.

During his trial last September, the court heard that after the attacks Breen got "really aggressive", asking them: "What were they going to do about it?" claiming he was "going to kill" the girl he indecently assaulted.

Questioned

However, when Breen left the flat he left his wallet behind and shouted to the girls from outside to find it.

They did and found his bank card and noted his name before throwing it to him in the street.

They then phoned police about the attacks and gave Breen's details who was arrested and questioned the following day.

The court also heard that since the attack, Breen's rape victim suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and is "unlikely to ever trust men again".

After the case, police praised the quick actions of the girls, underlining it's importance and urged other victims to come forward as soon as possible after any sex attack.