Disgraced garda loses appeal over sex assault on sleeping woman

A former garda has failed in his appeal against a two-year prison sentence for sexually assaulting a sleeping woman at a Mayo hotel in July 2015. The 37-year-old man pleaded guilty to the offence at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court after initially maintaining his innocence. He was subsequently dismissed from An Garda Síochána following his guilty plea. The Court of Appeal upheld the sentence today, with Ms Justice Marie Baker finding the sentencing judge's approach sound. The original sentence was based on a four-year headline term with a 50 per cent reduction applied for mitigating factors including the man's prior good character and expressions of remorse. Ms Justice Baker stated the discount was appropriate and potentially "generous". She noted the gravity of the offence and the late guilty plea justified a custodial sentence without suspension. The three-judge court found no error in principle and dismissed the appeal.