Cork man jailed for woman's false imprisonment in 'prolonged and terrifying' assault

Cork Circuit Criminal Court heard the defendant 'called her vile, derogatory and degrading names before grabbing her by the throat causing her to believe she would be strangled'

The man was sentenced by Judge Helen Boyle to five years in prison with the last two years suspended on Friday. File picture: Dan Linehan

A falsely imprisoned woman tried to get out of her attacker’s moving car in Cork and now the accused has been jailed for what the judge described as a sustained, prolonged and terrifying incident.

Jason O’Driscoll - who was formerly of 68 Noonan Road, Cork - was sentenced by Judge Helen Boyle to five years in prison with the last two years suspended on Friday.

He pleaded guilty at Cork Circuit Criminal Court to charges of assault causing harm, false imprisonment and strangulation-type assault.

Judge Boyle said that the parties had been in a relationship in the past and when the 26-year-old met her on May 3, 2024, he would not let her go but instead drove her home to his house where he refused to let her leave.

“He called her vile, derogatory and degrading names before grabbing her by the throat causing her to believe she would be strangled,” the judge said. He also punched her in the face and body.

Later she told him that she urgently needed to get to her dentist but he accompanied her closely and warned her not to try to get away or to say anything to anyone.

He forced her back into his car and CCTV in the Carrigrohane area showed the car moving and a door opening with a person’s legs coming out of the vehicle.

Ultimately, she managed to run to the Kingsley Hotel where she was covered in blood and collapsed in the foyer. Staff immediately came to her assistance and called for an ambulance but she left and found her way to where her brothers lived.

Judge Boyle noted that Jason O’Driscoll had been on cannabis from the age of 15 and later on cocaine, and that this had altered his behaviour. She said background reports showed he had limited motivation for change.