Teen sentenced for assaulting two women out exercising

A teenager who sexually assaulted women in north Dublin as they exercised in the evenings has been given a two-year suspended sentence by Mr Justice George Birmingham at the Central Criminal Court.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to charges of sexual assault against a 24-year-old woman on April 24, 2008 and against a 27-year-old woman on May 22, 2008 at locations in north Dublin.

Detective Garda Patrick McGuire told Mr Michael Delaney SC, prosecuting, that shortly after 9.30pm on the evening of April 24, 2008 a 24-year-old woman took a walk close to an apartment where she was staying with friends.

The woman told gardaí she was grabbed from behind by a young male with very short hair who said that he wanted to have sex with her.

The woman suggested that they walk toward a nearby bench and talk about it first. As they did so the teenager groped her and attempted to put his hands down the front of her tracksuit.

The woman tried to fight the teenager off but as she did so he pulled his own trousers down and knocked her over a wall.

The woman told gardaí that she thought that the attack “was the end” and so turned and kicked the teenager firmly. The teenager kicked the woman back and knocked her over the wall a second time, before abruptly stopping the attack and leaving the scene.

Det garda McGuire told Mr Delaney that, on May 22, 2008 a 27-year-old woman, who is a keen jogger, went for a run just after 8.30 in the evening.

Believing that someone was following her, the woman turned to see a teenager standing some distance back wearing a distinctive red jacket.

When the woman reached the bottom of the road she was struck from behind and knocked to the ground on a green area between two boulders. The woman struggled and hit out against her attacker as he held her to the ground.

The teenager pulled her tracksuit bottoms and underwear down in one movement and groped her, before abruptly standing up and running away.

The woman gave chase to her attacker but lost sight of him as he entered a nearby housing estate.

Gardaí arrested the teenager two days later having observed him in a local housing estate wearing the same distinctive red jacket as described by the victim.

In his statement to gardaí, the teenager initially denied any sexual element to the attacks but eventually conceded that he had put his hands down the jogging-bottoms of both women.

He agreed with gardaí that the incidents proved that he was sexually frustrated and out of control, and said that he felt “really bad” about the second attack and that he “went over the top”.

Det garda McGuire agreed with Ms Isobel Kennedy SC, defending, that the two victims had relatively minor injuries as a result of the attacks and that both did not appear to have long term residual effects.

Det garda McGuire agreed with Ms Kennedy that during an interview with the teenager, it became clear that there may not have been sufficient evidence to bring a prosecution against him without an admission of guilt.

Ms Kennedy told the court that the teenager was a very young man who deeply regretted his behaviour and the effect it had on his victims.

Mr Justice Birmingham said that the offences committed by the teenager were of real seriousness and that his victims had endured an unpleasant and frightening experience.

He said that it was quite fortunate that in his choice of victim the teenager had attacked two women who were able to look after themselves physically and who were of a strong and resilient character.

Mr Justice Birmingham said that he was bound by the provisions of the Children Act, 2001 to regard a custodial sentence as a last resort and imposed a two-year suspended sentence.

He said that a custodial sentence would impede the teenager’s further education and seriously disrupt his relationship with his family.

Mr Justice Birmingham said he was also mindful of protecting the public and directed that the teenager sign on each day during the extended daylight hours of summertime at his local garda station.