A man who raped a married mother after she became separated from her friends on a night out in Dublin has been jailed for ten years.

Mohamed Okda, formerly of Coolfin, Rathdowney in County Laois, was convicted of two counts of rape following a seven-day trial.

The victim, who is married with children, lives outside Dublin but had travelled to the city for a night out with friends in February 2014.

She met Okda outside a pub at the end of the night. She said she was drunk and tired and had become separated from her friends.

She initially refused his offer to take her back to his flat while she tried to contact them but ended up getting a taxi with him.

Back in the flat, she said he forced himself on her and raped her.

He claimed the sex was consensual and even claimed she had instigated it.

The court was told today that Okda, who is originally from Egypt, still disputes the jury’s verdict.

Pronouncing the sentence, Mr justice Michael Moriarty described as "distressing" some of the comments made by Okda about the woman’s behaviour during the trial.

Okda had claimed she only became upset when the jury was in the courtroom and could be seen laughing and joking with her husband in their absence.

Judge Moriarty then laid down a sentence of ten years in prison.