Two Men Jailed for Raping Woman in Dungannon Underground Car Park

Two men who raped a young woman in an underground car park in County Tyrone have been handed custodial sentences, with a judge describing the attack as a "prolonged and humiliating ordeal."

Luis Dos Martins Mariano, 20, of Sloan Street, and Alcino Soares, 21, of Braeside, both in Dungannon, had previously admitted to the charge of rape. The pair, who moved to Northern Ireland from East Timor when they were younger, appeared before Downpatrick Crown Court on Thursday via video link from Hydebank prison to learn their fate.

The court heard that the assault took place on 10 September 2023, when both defendants were 17 years old, and the victim was 19. Some of the incident was captured on CCTV cameras operating within the car park, footage that the presiding judge later said "makes for disturbing viewing."

Sentencing both men to six years, Judge Richard Green ordered that three years be served in custody, with the remaining three years to be spent on license in the community. The judge also mandated that both men be placed on the sex offenders register for life and issued disqualification orders preventing them from working with children and young adults.

In delivering his sentencing remarks, Judge Green commended the courage of the victim, describing her as a "survivor" and praising her impact statement as both "eloquent and moving." He told the court that the woman had been subjected to a "prolonged and humiliating ordeal" during which Soares and Mariano took turns raping her.

The judge emphasised the vulnerability of the victim, stating it should have been "obvious to both of them she was intoxicated and she was less able to recognise the danger she was in." He noted she was "not capable of resisting this cowardly attack" and was unable to call for help. Judge Green further observed that the decision to take the woman to a car park at such a late hour demonstrated a "significant degree of planning and foresight" on the part of the attackers.

During an earlier sentencing hearing at Dungannon Crown Court on 3 September, the prosecution outlined the victim's account of the night in question. A Tetum interpreter stood beside the two defendants, translating the proceedings as they were detailed in court.

The court heard that the victim had been enjoying a night out in Dungannon on 9 September 2023. She described being outside a fast food shop and feeling "quite drunk" when she was approached by two males who appeared to be East Timorese. Her next recollection was of both men walking on either side of her down an alleyway that led into a car park. She recalled having difficulty standing and being unable to speak properly.

The prosecution told the court that the victim said one of the males "started to rape" her while the other kept watch and "stood laughing." She also remembered being brought to another corner of the car park where she was raped again. Eventually, the men left her, and she managed to get up and leave the car park.

CCTV footage from the car park recorded the events, and the prosecution stated that the footage was "consistent with the defendants' pleas." The court was told it was clear the victim was "incapacitated and in a vulnerable state" at the time of the attack. Both men were subsequently arrested.

The legal process proved lengthy and complex. In March 2025, the pair appeared together at Dungannon Crown Court, where Mariano admitted rape but Soares pleaded not guilty. Numerous adjournments followed, and just before Soares was due to stand trial in October 2025, he entered a guilty plea to the charge of rape.

During the September 2026 sentencing hearing, defence counsel for Mariano said their client was "not disputing the harm caused by this case." The barrister told the court that an expert report had found Mariano had a "moderate learning disability," and argued that the relevant factors in his case were "age, vulnerability and cognitive ability." The defence acknowledged there was no "challenge to the integrity and strength of the victim" and conceded that she "clearly did not consent in this case." Mariano's legal team said he had apologised and expressed "shame and remorse" for his actions.

Soares' defence barrister told the court that their client was neither fluent in Tetum nor English. An expert report outlined that this "language deficit" had created difficulties and impacted his "understanding of societal norms and morals." The barrister stated that Soares apologised and had "accepted his wrongdoing and his remorse."

In sentencing, Judge Green said he had taken into account several mitigating factors, including the men's young age at the time of the offence, their learning difficulties, their guilty pleas, delays in the case and the time they had already spent in prison.

Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Ch Insp Steph Finlay welcomed the sentences, describing the incident as an "appalling and deeply distressing attack on a young woman who should have been able to make her way home safely after meeting with friends." She said the actions of the two men were "predatory, degrading and showed a complete disregard for their victim."

Ch Insp Finlay also paid tribute to the "tremendous courage" the victim had shown throughout what she described as an "extremely difficult and traumatic process." She added that the sentences "hold both men accountable for their actions."

The case has highlighted the devastating impact of sexual violence on victims and the importance of the criminal justice system in securing convictions. The lengthy legal process, which stretched over several years from the initial arrest to final sentencing, underscores the challenges often faced in prosecuting such serious offences. The judge's decision to allow half of the sentence to be served on license reflects the complex considerations courts must balance when dealing with young offenders who have pleaded guilty while also acknowledging the severity of the crime and its lasting effects on the victim.