‘We are appalled by this act’ – rugby club expels Jonathan Moran after rape conviction

Moran (26) was convicted in April of section 4 rape and aggravated sexual assault and this week, during a sentencing hearing for his crimes, his victim Bláthnaid Raleigh waived her right to anonymity.

Moran, who is awaiting sentence, used a bottle to assault Ms Raleigh in a shed after a night out in Galway in July 2019.

She was left with extensive physical injuries that required months of treatment in a sexual assault unit.

It is understood the rugby player, who has played for the club for over a decade, kept the incident, his arrest, charge and conviction, secret from his teammates and club for five years.

A club source said members were “stunned” when news of Moran’s identity broke in the media on Monday.

An emergency general committee meeting was held on Wednesday night and, in accordance with “club procedures”, Moran’s association with the club was terminated.

In a subsequent statement to the Irish Independent, the club expressed condemnation of Moran’s assault.

“Mullingar Rugby Football Club was deeply shocked and saddened to learn on Monday of the crime committed by former member Jonathan Moran,” read the statement.

“We condemn and are appalled by this act. Mullingar RFC prides itself on fostering an inclusive and safe environment for all members. We are committed to promoting a culture of respect, integrity and zero tolerance for any form of abuse and to upholding the values of sportsmanship, integrity, and respect for all.”

Moran was playing and training with the club right up until the end of this year’s season. Last January, he was celebrated after earning his 100th cap for the men’s senior first team.

This week the club was scouring its social media pages in an effort to remove all traces of Moran’s image.

Ms Raleigh, who is also a former member of the Mullingar club, having played on youth teams, has not been contacted by anyone from the club since the news of her ordeal broke.

Her brother, who was a player at the club at the time of the attack, subsequently left. Ms Raleigh, who was 21 at the time of the attack, said her sibling’s decision to step away was made over fears that emotions would take over and he would say or do something to jeopardise his sister’s case.

Moran, meanwhile, carried on his life as normal. “He continued to work, he continued to socialise, he continued to play rugby,” said Ms Raleigh.

“He managed to keep this very quiet. He played at the same club as my brother and he had to leave. He was afraid of jeopardising the case by saying something or doing something. He didn’t want emotions taking over. All our lives were upended but his was fine.”

Moran claimed that the sexual activity on the night had been consensual and denied that he used any implement in assaulting Ms Raleigh. Her DNA was found on three plastic cordial bottles following a forensic examination of the shed.

Ms Raleigh said the attack “shattered the path my life was on because someone decided to hurt me”. She said she no longer enjoys going out as she is constantly worrying about the safety of those around her.

In court this week, Moran’s barrister said her client had “difficulty facing up to the case”, but now accepts the verdicts of the jury and is remorseful. The court heard he has no previous convictions and comes from a good, hard-working family. The judge in the case revoked his bail and remanded him in custody for a continued custody hearing on July 1.

“Sending him to prison doesn’t really change my life,” said Ms Raleigh.

“The damage is done. He was named and people know…and for me I got more out of people knowing that now. He had lived this perfect life. He had continued with this arrogance and now we have the truth. That means more to me than the prison sentence.”

In her victim impact statement, Ms Raleigh said her family has been her greatest support before she acknowledged how the attack affected their lives.

She said she has experienced “fear, anger, sadness and loss”.

She said the justice process had “felt so pointless” at times but she said she is so grateful to “those 12 people who believed me”.

Ms Raleigh added that she hopes to be a “support and advocate for other victims of sexual violence”, before acknowledging that some people don’t get as far as she did, and not everyone sees their attacker convicted.

Moran’s employers, plastics company Mergon, said they also had no knowledge of the accusations against him or his subsequent conviction until Tuesday.

“We offer our sincere sympathies and support to the victim of this atrocious crime,” said a spokesperson.

“Mergon abhors sexual violence of any form, and holds the Irish judicial system in the highest regard. The safety and wellbeing of Mergon employees and their families is of paramount importance and we are liaising with our internal teams, and professionals, to ensure everyone has access to the support they require.”

Mergon said it has put in place the process of terminating Moran’s employment with immediate effect.