Courts / Dublin / Report
"I am going to kill you" - Jail for man in early morning sexual assault
Summary
Marius Lacatus, 32, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison for sexually assaulting a woman on her way to work early on 19 August 2024. He followed her, attacked her from behind, dragged her to a park, threatened her with death, and sexually assaulted her. Gardaí found him hiding under a bridge; he was intoxicated and initially could not be interviewed. He pleaded guilty to sexual assault and making threats to kill or cause serious harm. The court noted the sudden, violent nature of the attack and the victim's right to fear. The judge considered mitigating factors such as his guilty plea, remorse, and background, and imposed a sentence of five and a half years, citing intoxication as no excuse. The incident lasted about two minutes, and the victim received medical treatment. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: "I am going to kill you" - Jail for man in early morning sexual assault. Charges or matters: sexual assault and making threats to kill or cause serious harm to the woman, who was also a foreign national, in Dublin, on August 19, 2024. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- August 19, 2024 Incident
- 2025-07-25 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: sexual assault and making threats to kill or cause serious harm to the woman, who was also a foreign national, in Dublin, on August 19, 2024 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Passing sentence today, Judge Martin Nolan said for reasons known only to Lacatus he had grabbed the woman and physically assaulted her to some extent before sexually assaulting her. Judge Nolan noted mitigating factors outlined by the defence such as his plea of guilty, impoverished background, remorse and good work history and imposed a five and a half year sentence.
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