BOTTLE RAPE MAN BAILED
A 24-YEAR-old student yesterday appeared before Galway District Court charged with the double rape of a woman with a bottle.
The man, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, is charged with the aggravated sexual assault of a woman by penetrating her anus with a bottle at a house in Galway city on July 21, 2019.
He is also charged with raping the woman vaginally with the bottle on that date.
Det Sharon Noone said the accused made no reply when both charges were put.
Judge Mary Fahy remanded the man on his own conditional bail of €1,000 with half of that amount to be lodged in court, to appear back before the court again on October 20 for service of a book of evidence.
A VICTIM of harassment and stalking has said she “absolutely welcomes” a proposal to update the statute book to make stalking an actual crime — with a maximum sentence of ten years.
Amy Dunne — once known as Miss D — was preyed on at the hands of an older man whom she trusted and confided in.
He sent her anonymous vile text messages, leaving items at her door and putting her in fear of her safety and her life.
Eamonn Byrne (59) secretly preyed on the single mum- of- one over a four-month period after they had befriended each other several years prior.
Byrne, of Beechwood Drive, Marley’s Lane in Drogheda, Co Louth was given a four month suspended sentence at Drogheda District Court last year for harassing and stalkingMsDunnefromAugust2016to November 2016. He has since passed away.
However, stalking is not a specific crime currently and only falls under the umbrella of harassment.
Fianna Fáil Senator Lisa Chambers brought a draft bill through the second stage in the Seanad yesterday evening. The bill has passed second stage and will move to committee stage next Tuesday.
It outlines specific legislation to make stalking a criminal offence, with a maximum sentence of ten years.
Protection
“I absolutely welcome the new proposals,” Amy told The Star. “If I had the energy I’d have been out protesting and doing what I could for changes but I was exhausted after my ordeal. And I got no justice or protection.
“A specific offence of stalking in the law would help and the punishment should fit the crime.
“Stalking can be on so many levels and I felt my case wasn’t taken seriously. It was a real let down when he walked away with a suspended four months sentence whereas I am left with a life sentence.
“My daily life has since been affected by what he did to me. I am paranoid, everything is sinister in my mind and I am living on my nerves.
“If there was a specific charge of stalking then the case could have gone to the circuit courtandhemayhavegottenactualjail time and I may have gotten some justice or peace of mind.”
“He lived close to me and there was not even a restriction put on him to stay away