A Dublin man who started having have sex with his sister-in-law as she lay asleep beside her partner was jailed for 3 1/2 years yesterday. The defendant claimed he strayed into her bedroom while looking for the toilet. He had been staying over-night at her flat.
Mr Justice Flood noted, however, that the man later admitted he had intentions towards the woman while they were out drinking. She was in her 20s. He said the man's actions had been "like those of an animal". The woman had been violated in the grossest possible manner.
The 32-year-old man, who is separated from the victim's sister, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to sexually assaulting her on October 2nd, 1994. He apologised to her from the witness box. He also agreed to pay her substantial compensation and had £1,000 in court. The sentence can be reviewed on March 18th, 1999.
Det Sgt Gerry McDonald said the woman and her boyfriend met the man in a pub and they had a number of drinks. He came back to their flat and was allowed to spend the night on a couch downstairs. The woman went upstairs with her boyfriend and had sex with him.
She then went asleep but woke a short time later to feel someone having sex with her. She looked over to see her boyfriend asleep in bed beside her. The defendant got up off the bed and ran out of the room. She went to the Garda. The defendant initially denied any wrongdoing but later pleaded guilty.