Denis Coulson, a former Irish U20 prop, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison after being convicted of raping a woman in Bordeaux in 2017.
Coulson was among three ex-FC Grenoble rugby players charged with the gang rape of a 20-year-old woman following a match in Bordeaux in March 2017.
The verdicts were reached after over nine hours of deliberations.
A majority verdict was issued for all five defendants.
The court indicated that Coulson would not be imprisoned immediately; instead, he would be required to wear an electronic tag for two years and remain in France.
Loick Jammes, a 30-year-old from France, was found guilty of rape and also received a 14-year sentence.
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Rory Grice, a 34-year-old from New Zealand, was convicted of rape and received a 12-year sentence.
Dylan Hayes, also 30 and from New Zealand, was given a two-year suspended sentence for failing to prevent a crime.
The incident occurred in a hotel room in Mérignac, a suburb of Bordeaux, after FC Grenoble played a championship match against Union Bordeaux Bègles.
All five defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The three men accused of rape asserted that any sexual activity was consensual.
Chris Farrell received a four-year sentence, with two years suspended.
The trial was conducted behind closed doors, at the request of the complainant’s lawyers, with no media or public present.
It commenced last week at La Cour d’Assises, a criminal court in the southwestern Gironde region.
Initially set for June, the trial was postponed after Coulson’s attorneys requested an adjournment.
His lawyers informed the court that he suffered serious injuries in a car accident in Ireland and was unable to communicate with them.
The judge postponed the proceedings, which resumed on December 2 for a two-week trial.
Coulson joined FC Grenoble in 2014 and played there until 2017.
Farrell also joined Grenobles in 2014, playing the same term and representing Ireland 15 times, including at the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
Following the verdicts, Grégoire Mouly, one of the victim’s lawyers, described the outcome as a relief for her after nearly seven years, commending the French justice system.
“For the victim, it is a relief because the French justice conveyed to this woman, and to those men, that they had no right to act as they did that night,” he stated.
“The French justice also emphasized to all victims that we believe you. Today, they told one victim we believe you, which is truly significant.”
Corinne Dreyfus Schmidt, Coulson’s lawyer, expressed her shock outside the courtroom, stating she is devastated by the decision.
“I am extremely shocked and heartbroken by the verdict. Tomorrow morning, we will file an appeal and request his release,” she said.
Ms. Dreyfus Schmidt mentioned that Mr. Coulson is expected to be imprisoned near Bordeaux.
Dylan Hayes, who received the suspended sentence, was seen leaving the court approximately thirty minutes after the verdicts.
