‘Threat to women of Cork’ freed on bail

A rapist who was described as a “serious threat to the women of Cork” has been granted bail pending an appeal against the reactivation of the suspended portion of his 18-year sentence.

Last February John English, aged 36, was sent back to jail for five years for not complying with the conditions of release from prison on an 18-year sentence for the rape of an Australian woman he met in a pub in Cork City in 2002. He was sentenced to 18 years with five suspended in 2004. He has convictions for sexual assault, false imprisonment, and assault causing harm dating back to 1993.

He was described by Mr Justice Barry White at the time as “a danger and a menace to society” and “a serious threat to the women of Cork”. He suspended five years of the sentence on condition English comply with all recommendations made by the Probation Services, which directed that he abstain from alcohol.