A Cork man has received an eight-year prison sentence for hijacking a car and stealing jewellery from a woman passenger.
Gerry Foley (26), of Courtown Drive, Knocknaheeny, Cork, pleaded guilty to the unlawful seizure of a vehicle outside a chip shop in Knocknaheeny on December 13th, 1999.
Garda Declan Lynch told the court that the owner of the car was in the chip shop when the incident took place. His girlfriend was sitting in the car with the keys in the ignition when Foley got into the car and stole three of her rings.
Another man had jumped into the car and sexually assaulted the young woman, who at the time was five months pregnant, as the accused drove towards Harbour View Road, Knocknaheeny.
Garda Lynch told the court that the victim has been having nightmares since the attack.
The car was recovered in the Gurranabraher area of the city the following day. Garda Lynch told the court that the woman had suffered considerable distress as a result of the incident and went on to have her baby 10 weeks prematurely.
Foley, who is currently serving a sentence for previous convictions, expressed sorrow. He said that he didn't intentionally hijack the car but was under the influence of drugs.
Judge A.G. Murphy said Foley's case would be reconsidered by the parole board in a few years' time provided he attends all available classes and tries to overcome his drug problem.