Man blamed ‘white van’ for attack on teen girl

A man claimed he was concerned about a suspicious white van in Macroom and this was why he grabbed a 16-year-old girl and dragged her into a building.

Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin described the case as bizarre as he imposed a three-year jail term, with the last year suspended, on Shane O’Neill, aged 45, of Shanacashel, Kilmichael, Macroom, Co Cork.

O’Neill pleaded guilty to a charge of assault causing harm to the girl. Following his arrest on this charge, he tried to escape and assaulted gardaí in the process. He later pleaded guilty to charges arising out of that.