Suspended sentence for party sex assault
The man, who cannot be named to protect the woman’s identity, snuck into the room after she had gone to bed. He later admitted he started kissing and touching her in the hope that she would think it was her partner and not him.
Judge Catherine Murphy imposed a three-year sentence which she suspended in full on various conditions, including that the man continues to address his alcohol issue.
He was declared a sex offender at a previous hearing.
“It’s clear that your intake of alcohol played a very big part in what happened,” Judge Murphy said, suggesting the man consider living his life alcohol free.
“You’re getting a chance here, I hope you make the most of it,” she added.
The 32-year-old pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to sexual assault of the woman at a Dublin home in early 2013.
At an earlier hearing, his defence counsel told the court that the man has €2,000, which he had saved up, as a token of remorse for the victim.
Lisa Dempsey, for the prosecution, said the victim does not want this money and would prefer that it goes to the Rape Crisis Centre. Judge Murphy directed that the man’s solicitor pay it over to the charity.
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