Courts / Dublin / Report

On-the-run sex offender caught after mugging

Date
2020-07-29

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin City

County
Dublin

Summary

In July 2020 a 26‑year‑old man, previously convicted of sexual assault, was brought before the Central Criminal Court after he had been on the run for 18 months. He had been found guilty in his absence in December 2018 of 14 counts of sexually assaulting his cousin between 2008 and 2011, and a seven‑year sentence had been imposed. In November 2019 he was arrested for robbing a 62‑year‑old woman on Fitzgibbon Street, where he punched her and stole her handbag. He pleaded guilty to the robbery. Judge Sarah Berkeley imposed a consecutive four‑year term, with the final year suspended, after hearing the victim's impact statement and noting the defendant's drug and alcohol influence. The man is due for release from Midlands Prison on 8 February 2025. The victim suffered minor head injuries and psychological distress, and now feels nervous walking to work. The unnamed 26-year-old pleaded not guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: On-the-run sex offender caught after mugging. Charges or matters: the charges which relate to two locations in Dublin on dates between June 2008 and October 2011; robbery of the woman at Fitzgibbon Street on November 9, 2019. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Found guilty

When:

May 2018 Incident
June 2008 Hearing Or Sentence
October 2011 Hearing Or Sentence
November 9, 2019 Incident
December 2018 Incident
November 2019 Other
February 2025 Hearing Or Sentence
February 8, 2025 Other
2020-07-29 Publication

Case subjects

Unnamed 26-year-old

Convicted Person

Charges: the charges which relate to two locations in Dublin on dates between June 2008 and October 2011; robbery of the woman at Fitzgibbon Street on November 9, 2019 (Proven)

Plea: Not guilty

Finding: Found guilty

Outcome: Found guilty; Mr Justice Michael White had imposed a seven year sentence on the man in his absence in December 2018 after he had been informed by the State that gardaí had not been able to execute the warrant. When he was brought before Mr Justice White in November 2019, the judge told the man that a seven year sentence had been imposed on him in his absence and that he would begin serving that term from that date.