Man raped ex-partner in front of their child

A DONEGAL man raped his ex-partner in front of their infant child, the Central Criminal Court has heard.

He tried to rape the woman seven times before succeeding. He will be sentenced next month by Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan.

The 25 year old pleaded guilty to the rape of the woman at his home on February 26, 2010. He has several previous convictions including theft, assault and burglary.

A detective garda told Paul Coffey SC, prosecuting, that the man and the victim lived together and had a child before they separated in 2009. They took turns minding the child and on the day of the attack the woman was leaving her with her former partner at his home. They washed and played with the child before putting her to bed in her cot. The man then attacked his ex-partner and held her on the bed. He tried to rape her several times before succeeding. The baby was in the room.

The victim shouted to stop and he threatened to tie her to the bed. Afterwards he refused to return the child and threatened revenge if she went to the gardaí. She said she would not and he let her go.

When the victim got home her mother noticed she was pale and asked what was wrong. The woman said she had been raped and gardaí were called. Her ex-partner was arrested and denied having sexual contact with the woman. DNA evidence was later found linking him to the rape.

Conor Devally, defending, said his client “misread the situation” and had the impression the sex was consensual. He said he stopped once he realised the woman was not consenting. Mr Devally said it was a “once-off, spur of the moment incident” and the man pleaded guilty to spare his partner the ordeal of trial.

He said the man was of “limited intelligence” and fell into drugs after school. He said he was in a relationship and expecting a child.

Mr Justice Sheehan said he wanted time to consider a sentence and remanded the man in custody.