When Elena O’Brien told her husband Riad Hamzi that she wanted their marriage to end, he punched and raped her, forcing his fist into her mouth and ordering her to be quiet. A jury rejected his claim that the sex was consensual.
The attack
Ms O’Brien has waived anonymity so that Hamzi can be named. On 19 August 2020, during serious marital difficulties, she told him she wished to separate. Hamzi initially said everything was fine, then became aggressive.
He punched her twice in the body, raped her and forced his fist into her mouth while telling her to be quiet. Ms O’Brien later emailed her solicitor describing what happened and went to a Garda station.
Hamzi denied rape and told Gardaí the sex was consensual. In December 2024, a Central Criminal Court jury convicted him.
Sentence and victim impact
Ms O’Brien told the court that Hamzi had treated her as a possession rather than a wife and destroyed her sense of safety. She described PTSD, nightmares and the feeling that she was surviving rather than living.
On 24 March 2025, Mr Justice Paul Burns identified the relationship, the impact and violence beyond the rape as aggravating factors. He imposed nine years with the final year suspended for three years, producing eight years’ immediate custody. The sentence was backdated to 20 December 2024.
Hamzi is an Algerian national reported to have lived in Ireland for more than 25 years and to have a long work history. No previous criminal convictions were identified in the located sentencing reports. His nationality and residence history do not establish asylum, unlawful status, deportability or a removal decision.
Chronology
- More than 25 years before sentence: Lived in Ireland, according to court reporting.
- 19 August 2020: Punched and raped Ms O’Brien after she sought separation.
- After the attack: Ms O’Brien contacted her solicitor and Gardaí.
- December 2024: Jury convicted Hamzi of rape.
- 24 March 2025: Nine years imposed, final year suspended.
- Latest located record: no published release, transfer or immigration-enforcement outcome.
Cost benchmark
The eight-year immediate term represents a gross prison-space benchmark of €792,576 at the Irish Prison Service’s 2024 staffed-space average. The full nine-year nominal term benchmarks at €891,648.
Questions the record leaves
- What long-term support has been funded for Ms O’Brien?
- What risk assessment and treatment programme will govern Hamzi’s custody and release?
- Will his residence position be reviewed before release, and on what lawful basis?
- What post-release protections will apply during the suspended-sentence period?