Courts / Dublin / Report
Tunisian national jailed for attacking pregnant woman after refusing to pay for sex act
Summary
Rafik Bin Salah, a 38‑year‑old Tunisian national, was sentenced to 21 months in prison for assault causing harm after refusing to pay a pregnant woman for a public sex act on Dublin's Eden Quay boardwalk on 24 August 2020. The victim, who was nearly seven months pregnant, had been begging for money and was offered €30 for a hand job. Salah paid €20, then tried to retrieve the money he had paid, knocking the woman to the ground. She suffered minor injuries and became hysterical, fearing for her baby's safety. Two witnesses saw the incident and called Gardaí. Salah, who has five prior convictions in Ireland, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court. Justice Karen O'Connor described the offence as hideous, noting no evidence he knew the victim was pregnant, and imposed the sentence after considering his good behaviour in custody, where he works as a prison barber. The maximum penalty for the offence is five years.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Tunisian national jailed for attacking pregnant woman after refusing to pay for sex act. Charges or matters: assault causing harm to the woman on the boardwalk on Eden Quay, Dublin city centre on the night of August 24, 2020. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- August 24, 2020 Incident
- 2022-11-21 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: assault causing harm to the woman on the boardwalk on Eden Quay, Dublin city centre on the night of August 24, 2020 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Ms Justice O'Connor imposed a sentence of 21 months, having taking into consideration his good behaviour while in custody where he has taken on the role of prison barber.
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
- Dublin city
- Fitzgibbon Street
Topics
Related court reports
- 'Brilliant law academic' who stabbed elderly father to death found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity
- 'He told me he loved me, but I just kept stabbing him' - lawyer on trial accused of murdering father
- Mentally ill man who received suspended sentence for harassing barrister contacted her within days of release, court hears
- Former solicitor at prestigious firm pleads not guilty to murdering father by reason of insanity
- Sentence adjourned for broadcaster Brendan Courtney's attacker
- 'I'm going to kill you' - Carjacker held knife to elderly woman's throat
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request