A convicted rapist had to be removed from a court room earlier for shouting abuse at his victim during his sentence hearing.

The man, who cannot be named to protect her identity, attacked her in a caravan after luring her back there from a pub in Dublin.

The woman was 49 when the man approached her on a night out in March 2011.

He invited her to his sister's birthday party.

She said she became uneasy when they arrived at an empty caravan in Clondalkin and asked him to call her a taxi.

He refused, punched her in the face and raped her.

She somehow managed to escape and raised the alarm by running out in front of the first car she came across.

In July, the 57-year-old was convicted of rape, attempted rape, false imprisonment and assault causing harm.

During his sentence hearing today, the court heard the woman now suffers from panic attacks and has suicidal thoughts.

Her relationship of 23 years has since broken down and she avoids sleep because of recurring nightmares.

He was escorted out of the court room at one stage after becoming agitated in the dock.

He screamed abuse at his victim as he was being led away.

He is due to be sentenced next month.