By A doctor has been sentenced to eight years in prison after being convicted of raping a nurse who was asleep at an apartment in Limerick.
The victim, whose identity remains protected under legal anonymity laws, said she felt justice had been served following the conviction of Dr Louay Kila. The 31-year-old doctor was found guilty by a jury last week after a trial.
The offences took place in an apartment in Limerick city on March 2, 2024. During the trial, the court heard that the nurse had been sleeping on a couch when Kila sexually assaulted and raped her. Despite the victim telling him to stop, he continued the assault.
At the time of the incident, Kila worked as a senior registrar at University Hospital Limerick (UHL), while the victim was also employed there as a nurse.
Hospital Response Criticised
Following the conviction, the Health Service Executive (HSE) acknowledged that Kila should have been suspended from clinical duties as soon as the organisation became aware of the allegations.
In a statement, HSE Mid West admitted that the appropriate action was not taken at the time.
Officials stated that although support measures were provided to the victim once the assault was reported, the failure to suspend the doctor did not reflect current procedures or policies.
Kila was eventually voluntarily removed from the Irish medical register in March 2025, roughly one year after the incident.
Events Leading to the Assault
Evidence presented in court revealed that both Kila and the victim had met at a bar earlier that night. They later went separately to the same apartment as part of different social groups.
During sentencing, Judge Sean Gillane stated that the doctor had deliberately taken advantage of the victim’s vulnerability, noting she had been intoxicated and asleep at the time of the assault.
Kila had claimed to police that the interaction between him and the woman had been consensual. He suggested they had kissed and touched voluntarily and alleged the complaint was fabricated because the victim feared her boyfriend discovering the interaction.
However, the judge said the jury had clearly rejected these claims.
“He maintained a story he knew to be untrue,” the judge said, describing the doctor’s culpability as extremely serious. The court also noted the professional imbalance between the two, as both worked at the same hospital.
Photograph Sent to Victim’s Boyfriend
The court heard that Kila told the victim he disliked her boyfriend earlier in the evening.
Later, while the woman was asleep, Kila took a photograph of himself kissing her on the cheek and sent it to her boyfriend through social media. The boyfriend responded with a message ending the relationship.
The victim had been unaware that the photograph was taken or shared, which caused further distress.
Judge Gillane described the act as a deliberate humiliation and said it significantly aggravated the seriousness of the case.
Further Aggressive Behaviour
When leaving the apartment after the assault, Kila grabbed the woman by the jaw and attempted to kiss her again. The judge said this behaviour demonstrated a disturbing lack of respect for the victim.
The following day, Kila sent the victim a text message saying he cared about her wellbeing and asking if she would like to meet and talk. The judge described this message as manipulative.
Victim Speaks Out in Court
After the verdict was delivered, the victim addressed Kila directly in court, telling him: “I got justice.”
In her victim impact statement, she said she hoped her decision to report the crime would encourage other women who experience sexual violence to come forward.
Before the incident, she said she had been enthusiastic about working at University Hospital Limerick. However, after the assault, she felt unable to return to the workplace.
She described feeling physically ill when she had to go back to the hospital while Kila was still working there.
Sentence and Regulatory Action
For the rape conviction, the judge set a headline sentence of nine and a half years, which was reduced to eight years imprisonment. Kila also received a four-year sentence for sexual assault, to run at the same time.
He has also been placed on the sex offenders register.
The Irish Medical Council confirmed that regulatory proceedings relating to the doctor are ongoing, limiting what officials can publicly discuss.
Reaction from Advocacy Groups
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) stated that employers have a duty to protect staff members and respond quickly when employees experience harm.
Rachel Morrogh, CEO of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, praised the victim for her courage in reporting the assault.
She criticised the decision to allow the doctor to continue working for a year after the incident, describing it as the opposite of a survivor-focused approach.
According to Morrogh, anyone facing serious criminal allegations such as rape should be removed from frontline roles immediately while investigations are ongoing.
Support Services
The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre operates a 24-hour national helpline for survivors of sexual violence, available at 1800 778888.
