Man pleads guilty to sexually assaulting woman after bingo

A CORKMAN confessed to sexually assaulting and threatening to kill a woman in her 60s who was on her way home from bingo in Charleville, Co Cork.

Liam Smith, aged 21, of Batt Donegan Place, Charleville, Co Cork, was arraigned at Cork Circuit Criminal Court yesterday on three charges. Smith pleaded guilty to all three.

He admitted that at Charleville, Co Cork, on September 18 last hesexually assaulted the woman. Smith also admitted two separate counts of threatening to kill the woman with the intention of making her believe that he would carry out the threat to kill her.

Tim O’Leary, defence senior counsel, said of Smith: “He has been in custody on these matters for the past seven weeks. My application, given the gravity of the offences, would be to have the matter go back to February for sentencing.

“I would ask your lordship in aiding the defence to direct a psychiatric report and extend legal aid to cover the preparation of a psychiatric report.

“Mr Smith, before the beginning of this year, was working. He is facing a custodial sentence, perhaps a lengthy one.”

Donal McCarthy, prosecution barrister, said there was no defence objection to sentencing being put back. Judge Patrick J Moran remanded Smith in custody until February 23, 2012.