Robert Kennedy, a 44-year-old man, recently passed away in HMP Barlinnie while serving time for the rape of a 15-year-old girl. The incident occurred in September 2021, when Kennedy, after supplying the girl with drugs and alcohol, assaulted her in a car park in Partick, Glasgow. In August 2024, he was handed a seven-year prison sentence, and his death is now subject to a Fatal Accident Inquiry, adding to the gravity of the case.

The court highlighted the vulnerability of the victim, emphasizing that Kennedy took advantage of her fragile state. Lord Arthurson, who presided over Kennedy's sentencing, criticized him for not only inflicting substantial harm on his victim but also for continuing to offend despite being under two bail orders. His actions, which included providing the girl with alcohol and street Valium, significantly worsened the impact of the assault.

Kennedy's history of criminal behavior, including previous offenses involving a hypodermic needle, created a disturbing backdrop to the case. The presence of two bail orders meant he was already in the legal radar for dangerous conduct when he committed the rape. The Fatal Accident Inquiry will seek to shed light on the circumstances surrounding his death, which occurs against a backdrop of serious societal and legal issues regarding the treatment of sex offenders in the justice system.