Courts / Kerry / Report
Man violently sexually assaulted one woman before attacking another as boyfriend lay asleep beside her
Summary
In a case heard at the Central Criminal Court, Martin Burke, aged 26, was convicted of three counts of sexual assault and acquitted on one. The offences occurred on the night of 26 August 2018 in a Kerry town. Burke first assaulted a woman who had known him from a previous encounter; after a party involving alcohol and cannabis, he entered her spare room, bit her cheek and sexually assaulted her. She escaped to a shed, kicked him, and he fled. He later entered the bedroom of a second woman who was sleeping with her boyfriend. He asked if she was alright, grabbed her breast, left, returned, and touched her thigh under the sheets. The second victim kicked him and he left. Burke pleaded not guilty. Judge Paul McDermott sentenced him to five and a half years, suspending the final 12 months on the condition of probation for three years, and ordered him to stay away from both victims.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Man violently sexually assaulted one woman before attacking another as boyfriend lay asleep beside her. Charges or matters: four counts of sexual assault at a place in Co Kerry. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- August 26, 2018 Incident
- 2023-05-24 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: four counts of sexual assault at a place in Co Kerry (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed an operative sentence of five and a half years, but suspended the final 12 months on condition that Burke continue to engage with the Probation Service for a period of three years after his release.
Places mentioned
- The Central Criminal Court
- Central Criminal Court
Topics
Drugs Stage Sentence Violent Crime
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