'Mr C' has sentencing adjourned

A Dublin man who had unlawful carnal knowledge charges against him dropped after problems arose with the legislation has had his sentence for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl in a "parody of love" adjourned.

The 26-year-old, referred to as "Mr F" to protect the identity of his victim, was initially charged with unlawful carnal knowledge but those charges were struck out after the "Mr C" case highlighted the unconstitutionality of legislation and he was recharged with sexual assault.

"Mr F" pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in March to sexually assaulting the girl on dates between January 1-28, 2005 at a location in the North inner city.

Judge Katherine Delahunt adjourned sentencing for a number of weeks to allow her consider reports.

Detective Garda Michael Tynan told Ms Lisa Dempsey BL, prosecuting, that the victim’s parents became aware that "Mr F" had sex with their daughter some weeks earlier after she made a suicide attempt when she found out that Mr F" had made her 18-year-old cousin pregnant.

She had come into contact with "Mr F" when he became friends with her male cousin and he was often present when she visited her relatives. She began to look upon him as an "uncle who was always looking out for her".

"Mr F" went on holidays with hr family in December 2004 and during this trip he gained her confidence and kissed her in his hotel room on several occasions but told her not to tell anyone.

Det Gda Tynan said that on their return, "Mr F" kept in contact with her through texts and sent her phone credit so she could reply. He obtained the keys to an empty flat and during the period January to February 2005 she would meet him there, eventually having sex because she felt he would not like her anymore if she refused.

"Mr F" ceased contact with her after they had sex and she began to feel depressed. The girl heard at the beginning of March that her cousin was pregnant and "Mr F" was the father and she made a suicide attempt swallowing 50 aspirin tablets and attempting to slit her wrists with an implement from a school maths set.

Det Gda Tynan said "Mr F", who has 10 previous convictions for road traffic and public order offences and one for robbery, refused to answer any questions when interviewed by gardai.

He agreed with Mr Conor Devally SC, defending "Mr F", that the victim was not in fear of him and in fact felt close to him in "a parody of a relationship".

Mr Devally said "Mr F" was now in a "relationship" with the victim’s cousin with whom he had a child. He had "some insight" into the emotional impact his actions had on the young girl and was aware of the "social upheaval" he had created within her extended family whom "he had betrayed from the very beginning."

Mr Devally said "Mr F" was remorseful and now that he had a child of his own he saw the betrayal of trust this "parody of love" entailed.

He said he had encouraged his client "to see if he could make amends" and to this end "Mr F" had €10,000 in court to offer as compensation.