Dundalk Court: Man convicted of sexual assault

A man who was convicted of sexually assaulting his estranged wife in her home in County Louth, was last week jailed for two years at Dundalk Circuit Court.

The 55 year old man was found guilty by a jury last October of committing the offence on February 12th 2020.

The defendant had called to his former family home, and had sought to return and have a reconciliation. When he got up to leave, he sexually assaulted the woman, despite her repeatedly telling him she didn’t want any contact with him. Within an hour he texted an apology.

When interviewed at Drogheda Garda station seven months later, the defendant, who had no previous convictions, denied the allegations.

In an impact statement read to the court on her behalf, the woman said it happened while her son was in his room playing on his Playstation, and day to day life has been a struggle since the offence and she doesn’t feel safe in her own home.

The Defence barrister said it was completely out of character for his client, while four character references were handed into the court, including one from a retired Garda sergeant.

Judge Dara Hayes noted the defendant has not come to garda attention since the incident and his previous good record but he added there was an element of humiliation in the offending, which happened while their son was in the house and in the context of a breakdown.

He imposed a two and a half year sentence with the final six months suspended for 12 months the defendant complying with the directions of the Probation Service, engaging with any therapeutic or other work they recommend in relation to sexual offending or intimate partner violence.