A High Court judge has told a woman who was raped at a party five years ago that she would help others in similar situations to "realise they are not alone". A 26-year-old Cavan man, who can't be named for legal reasons, was found guilty following a trial earlier this year of one count of rape on December 31, 2018.
The Central Criminal Court heard that the man does not accept the verdict of the jury. Ms Justice Karen O'Connor made her comments this week after the woman read her victim impact statement to the court.
A local garda told Brian Storan BL, prosecuting, that the victim, then 17, was at a party and became intoxicated. She was helped to a bedroom and later returned downstairs.
The victim went back to the bedroom then fell asleep. She was then allegedly sexually assaulted by a different man, who is due to stand trial later this year. The complainant fell back asleep and later awoke to find the defendant raping her.
The court heard that when interviewed by Gardaí, the defendant did not accept culpability and suggested his belt was loose from dancing. The court was also told he was aware of the earlier alleged sexual assault and said he helped to pull this man from the complainant.
Meanwhile, the victim said she struggles to trust others and her instincts which is a "lonely way of being". She said her self-esteem has been affected as she was "reduced from a human being to a mere object of sexual gratification". She highlighted how she had to take time away from her studies and concluded by saying that one of the most painful aspects of the process was witnessing its impact on her mother.
Ms Justice O'Connor adjourned the case to June the 29th for finalisation and the man was subsequently custody to that date.
