MAN JAILED FOR BRUTAL SEXUAL ASSAULT IN TERENURE
A man named James Donoghue, aged 51, who resides on Harold's Cross Road in Terenure, has been sentenced to five years in prison for a serious attack on a woman.Donoghue admitted to attempting to sexually assault and threaten her with killing or causing serious harm on January 6th, 2014.
During the court hearing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Martin Nolan detailed that Donoghue's intentions were specifically to sexually assault the woman, rather than rob her.
The incident involved Donoghue following the woman home from work around midnight, lunging at her, and demanding she turn off her mobile phone under threat of death.
He then covered her eyes and mouth, hitting her in the face, but she managed to bite him on the finger, forcing him to run away.
The woman sustained cuts to her face and was taken to hospital.
Donoghue was stopped shortly after the attack, with evidence on him including bite marks, the victim’s DNA on a ring, and her bloodstains on his jacket.
He told authorities he had consumed alcohol and intended to sexually assault her.
Donoghue has a criminal history with 13 previous convictions, including serious assaults.
The victim expressed that her life changed dramatically after the attack, leading her and her husband to consider returning to their home country due to the psychological trauma.
Defense lawyer James Dwyer noted that Donoghue is aware of his issues, had been on medication to control his urges, but stopped due to his own actions, and that he had been drinking heavily that night which reduced his inhibitions.
Judge Nolan remarked that Donoghue was on the prowl at the time, and despite efforts with probation services, he believed Donoghue is unlikely to change his behavior, emphasizing the severity of the attack and its traumatizing impact on the victim.
Consequently, a seven-year sentence was handed down, with the last two years suspended.
