Sex assault victim is ‘constantly in fear for her safety’

THE victim of a sexual assault in a Kerry hotel has told the Circuit Criminal Court in Tralee that the assault has left her “paralysed with fear”.

In her victim impact statement, which was read to the court, she said that the incident has left her traumatised.

“I often lay in bed paralysed with fear,” she said.

I have spent seven years trying to pinpoint why this has happened and wondering what I did wrong.

“This attack happened while I was asleep, and to this day I only sleep a few broken hours.

“I am constantly living in fear. You did this. I constantly fear for my own safety,” she said in the statement.

The court heard that the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has not slept properly since the attack which occured in 2011 and that she has taken a lot of medication to try and help her to get over it.

The victim impact statement was read out in court as part of the sentencing hearing of the accused, who has been found guilty of sexual assault at a Kerry hotel in 2011.

The location of the hotel, the victim and the defendent cannot be named for legal reasons.

The court heard that the injured party and the accused were both employees of the hotel at the time of the incident.

A colleague’s party had taken place that night, and the victim had joined the party in the staff quarters and had then gone to bed.

The accused had enquired after her and had decided to go to her room, got into bed with her and began touching her private parts.

The court heard she wanted him to leave.

The following day the victim informed senior staff, and she subsequently told her manager, who informed gardaí.

Gardaí investigated the case, which took some time, and a European Arrest Warrant was issued for the accused.

He spent two months in a jail on foot of this warrant but was granted bail in Ireland on the charges.

His defence team explained that the eastern European man is a different man now compared to what he was in 2011.

The court also heard that he has no previous convictions and has co-operated with the court and returned voluntarily for court sittings.

The man’s defence team sought a suspended sentence for the accused.

Judge Tom O’Donnell said that he was very aware that this case had a “long and tortuous” history, and he added that gardaí should be commended for bringing this to court.

Judge O’Donnell adjourned sentencing to March next year so as to “not rush judgement”.

“I know this will prolong it, but I am not going to rush judgement.”

He also said that he hoped the victim could “now draw a line under it”.

“You have given your evidence and the jury have believed you.

“The trial process is over,” he added.