A young Dublin woman began an action for damages in the High Court yesterday against a publican who she claims sexually assaulted her when she worked at his pub.
Ms Monica Reilly (21), of South Brown Street, is suing Mr William Bonny, of the Bonny and Clyde pub, Newmarket, Dublin.
Following the alleged assaults which she claims were carried out over a period by Mr Bonny, Ms Reilly told the court she tried to kill herself and did not want to live. She is claiming damages for assault, including sexual assault, and for breach of her constitutional right to bodily integrity.
The defence denies all the claims.
Mr Ronnie Robbins SC, for Ms Reilly, told Mr Justice Kelly and a jury of seven men and five women that his client was an innocent and naive girl of 16 in September 1992 when she started working as a lounge girl for Mr Bonny, co-owner of the pub.
Counsel said that Mr Bonny, who was married, asked his client for a kiss at Hallowe'en and she kissed him on the lips. He slowly put pressure on her, lifting her clothes and trying to pull them down and exposing himself slowly.
Mr Robbins said his client never resisted and went along with this. She became introverted and began to fall out with her family. Her mother noticed that she would go into a bathroom and spend endless time trying to "wash the dirt" of Mr Bonny off her. She began to lose weight and her colleagues at FAS noticed.
It went on until her birthday, May 4th, 1993, when she left her work at the pub. Mr Robbins said Mr Bonny had given her £20 that night and told her to tell nobody.
Ms Reilly was slowly becoming depressed, counsel said.
The hearing continues today.