Two-year sentence for sexual assault of girl, 5

A Dutch national who sexually assaulted a five-year old child has been given a two years prison sentence by Judge Desmond Hogan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Ottmar Ortega (aged 54), from Curaçao in the Caribbean Sea, with an address in Castleknock, pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting the child by performing oral sex on her on January 22, 2006.

Garda Alan Smyth told prosecuting counsel, Ms Lisa Dempsey BL, that he was on patrol with his colleague, Gda Kieran Mullaney when they were despatched to the house where the offence happened and found the victim and her mother in distress.

They arrested Ortega. Who admitted his offence.

Gda Smyth agreed with defence counsel, Mr Sean Gillane BL, that the offence only lasted a few moments and there was no attempt at penetration. Ortega used no force and did not expose himself.

Gda Smyth also agreed with Mr Gillane that both the child's story and Ortega's "dovetailed" and his admission of guilt had been of "very significant value" to the victim.

He came to Ireland five years ago from Holland and had not come to Garda attention in any form before or since the offence.

Mr Gillane submitted that Ortega had no previous convictions. A Grenada Institute report indicated he did not have any paedophiliac tendencies but lacked insight into what happened and why he did it.

Mr Gillane said Ortega needed further professional interjection to help him gain the necessary insight but he did not have the funds to pay for treatment at the Grenada Institute.

Judge Hogan described the crime as "extremely serious" and noted it carried a possible 14-year sentence.

He said he had to have regard to the effect it had on the victim and had to impose a two-year prison sentence with the final year suspended on strict conditions.