Jail for man who sexually assaulted vulnerable woman

A 47-year-old man has been jailed for two and a half years by the Central Criminal Court after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting a vulnerable woman at a property in Longford on 11 February 2021. The court heard that the woman was intoxicated when the accused digitally penetrated her without consent while she slept. She discovered the assault upon waking and immediately left the room. The woman subsequently attended a Sexual Assault Treatment Unit and provided a victim impact statement describing profound trauma, including feelings of shame, social withdrawal, and ongoing distress. Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed a headline sentence of five years, reducing it to four years to account for the guilty plea and the accused's work history. The final 18 months were suspended for 18 months on condition of engagement with the Probation Service and completion of victim-focused work. A contact ban with the victim was also imposed.