Courts / Dublin / Report

Abuser threatened to commit suicide after sex attack on daughter's friend

Date
2021-11-17
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Dublin
County
Dublin

Summary

A 54‑year‑old man who sexually assaulted a 16‑year‑old girl in his Dublin home was sentenced in December. After the assault he sent explicit texts to the victim, claiming he had touched her breast and apologising. He threatened suicide at a pier, but Gardaí and RNLI persuaded him to return. He pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault and a charge of sending an explicit message to a child. The judge adjourned the case to 15 December to complete a psychological report, revoked his bail and remanded him in custody, noting that Cloverhill Prison could not accept new inmates due to a Covid outbreak. The victim's mother read a victim impact statement describing the assault's lasting effect on her daughter's identity and mental health. The man described himself as a functioning alcoholic and expressed remorse. The case remains at the criminal court stage.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Abuser threatened to commit suicide after sex attack on daughter's friend. Charges or matters: two counts of sexual assault and a charge of sending an explicit message to a child at his then home in Dublin on a date in August 2020. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

Why: Judge Elma Sheahan adjourned the case and said she would revoke the man's bail and remand him in custody but was alerted to the fact that Cloverhill Prison cannot take any new admissions because of a Covid outbreak there. CNI source report

Case subjects

Unnamed 54-year-old

Accused

Charges: two counts of sexual assault and a charge of sending an explicit message to a child at his then home in Dublin on a date in August 2020 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: A man who threatened to commit suicide after he sexually assaulted his daughter's best friend while the child was staying in their family home will be sentenced next December.; Judge Elma Sheahan adjourned the case and said she would revoke the man's bail and remand him in custody but was alerted to the fact that Cloverhill Prison cannot take any new admissions because of a Covid outbreak there.

Places mentioned

Court Venue
  • Dublin
  • Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Facility
  • Cloverhill Prison

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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