Courts / Kildare / Report
Young man who sexually assaulted friend avoids jail
Summary
Joe McCabe, aged 21, pleaded guilty in the Central Criminal Court to one count of sexual assault against a 16‑year‑old friend at his home in Maynooth between 2 and 31 March 2018. He was 17 at the time of the offence. The victim, now 21, gave consent for his name to be disclosed. At the hearing, Justice Karen O'Connor remanded McCabe in custody before sentencing. She imposed an 18‑month sentence, suspended in full on a number of conditions, noting that he must be sentenced as a minor and that detention should be a last resort. The judge highlighted the victim's catastrophic life impact, her disrupted education, ongoing depression, anxiety and flashbacks, and the significant and ongoing effect on her daily life. McCabe's guilty plea and the fact that the victim avoided trial were taken into account as mitigating factors.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Young man who sexually assaulted friend avoids jail. Charges or matters: one count of sexual assaulting his friend at his home address in Beaufield Crescent, Maynooth, Co Kildare on a date between March 2 and March 31, 2018. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- March 2 Adjournment
- March 31, 2018 Adjournment
- 2022-12-19 Publication
Case subjects
Applicant
Charges: one count of sexual assaulting his friend at his home address in Beaufield Crescent, Maynooth, Co Kildare on a date between March 2 and March 31, 2018 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Photo: Collins) A young man who took advantage of his friend and sexually assaulted her in his home when they were both teenagers has been given a suspended 18-month sentence. She said in relation to McCabe being a minor: "The emphasis is on rehabilitation and less on retribution and deterrence." She suspended the 18-month sentence on a number of conditions. "He has insight of incarceration, he has insight on leaving this building in a prison vehicle," the judge said. "If he breaches any of the conditions, I will not hesitate to impose sentence." Garda David Kenny told Vincent Heneghan SC, prosecuting, that on the night in question, the girl was upset about a relationship break-up and went to McCabe's house.; At a hearing last week, Ms Justice Karen O'Connor remanded McCabe in custody ahead of sentencing.
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
- McCabe's house
Topics
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