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Suspended sentence for nightclub sex assault

Summary

John Gossan, 40, of Castlegrange Hill, Swords, pleaded guilty to sexual assault at Wright's Cafe Bar, Malahide Road, Swords, on 22 February 2019. The court found he was in a drunken state when he grabbed a young woman's breasts and nether area over her clothes. Judge Martin Nolan described the act as shameful and frightening, noting it was a short encounter with no aggravating factors. Gossan received a fully suspended sentence of one year imprisonment, with strict conditions to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for one year. He was ordered to hand over €2,000 to the prosecuting Garda, which may be given to charity if the victim declines. Gossan has a prior 2010 drug‑dealing conviction for which he served four years. The sentencing took place at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Suspended sentence for nightclub sex assault. Charges or matters: sexual assault at Wright's Cafe Bar, Malahide Road, Swords, on February 22, 2019; conspiring to possess €600,000 worth of cocaine with two other men in north Co Dublin on September 14, 2006. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• February 22, 2019 Incident
• September 14, 2006 Incident
• 2021-02-16 Publication

Why: Judge Nolan said this was near the lower end of the range of offending for offences of this kind because of the nature of the offence. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Sentence Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report