Limerick: A doctor has been sentenced to eight years in prison after being convicted of raping a fellow nurse in University Hospital Limerick.
The sentence was handed down at the Central Criminal Court to Louay Kila (31), originally from Morocco. The court also ordered that he be placed on the sex offenders’ register.
In addition, the judge directed that Kila must continue to cooperate with An Garda Síochána and the probation service after his release. He is also required to notify Gardaí of any change of address once he leaves prison.
Assault Took Place in 2024
The court heard that Kila, who was working as a registrar doctor at University Hospital Limerick, raped a colleague at her apartment on March 2, 2024, after meeting her and her friends at a nightclub in the city.
At the time, Kila was living in the Cois Luachra area of Limerick. According to the prosecution, he later went to the victim’s apartment, where the assault occurred.
Kila told Gardaí that the interaction between him and the nurse had been consensual, claiming they had kissed and touched each other voluntarily. He also said he feared the nurse’s boyfriend might find out, which prompted the complaint. However, the court rejected this account, and a jury found him guilty last Friday.
Continued Working for Nearly a Year
The case has also raised questions about the fact that Kila continued working at the hospital for nearly a year after the incident. He remained in his position until March 2025, when he was voluntarily suspended from the register of medical practitioners in Ireland.
The situation has drawn criticism and embarrassment for the health service executive (HSE), which oversees public hospitals.
Victim Says Justice Has Been Served
Following the verdict, the victim told the court that she felt justice had been achieved and expressed hope that her case would encourage other victims to come forward.
She said that before the incident she had been a passionate nurse at University Hospital Limerick but later found it difficult to return to the workplace.
“I want to encourage any woman facing such a tragedy to have the courage to confront the accused,” she said. “I am strong and will recover from this. I will not allow that man’s actions to ruin my life.”
In response to the case, the health service executive said it regrets the distress caused to the victim and acknowledged that the doctor’s continued employment after the incident had created additional hardship.
The organisation said the situation is being taken very seriously and that ensuring the safety and wellbeing of staff will remain a priority.
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