Drunk man ran up and groped his neighbour

Eimear Cotter

A MAN who grabbed his middle-aged neighbour between her legs in a street assault on New Year's Day was so drunk he doesn't remember what he did, a court heard.

The 50-year-old woman was walking home when the man attacked her just yards from her front door.

She was rescued by her husband and son, who chased the defendant away and called the gardai.

The 32-year-old defendant told a court he was "deeply ashamed and appalled" at his behaviour. A judge said the victim must have endured a horrific ordeal.

Judge Anthony Halpin said he had "great admiration for the control and restraint of the victim's husband", adding that he was unsure about how he would have reacted. The judge told the defendant he was "lucky the husband did not take matters into his own hands".

Judge Halpin ordered a probation report and adjourned sentencing to September.

He said the man should bring compensation in court the next day, enough to allow the victim go away for a nice weekend with her husband.

Sketchy

The man, with an address in west Dublin, admitted before Blanchardstown District Court to sexually assaulting a nearby neighbour.

Garda Sergeant Maria Callaghan said the 50-year-old victim was walking home around 10pm on January 1 when the man ran up behind her.

Sgt Callaghan said the woman was nearly at her home when the man grabbed her and touched her between the legs.

The sergeant said the victim pushed him away and called for her husband and son, who came out of her house and chased him away.

The defendant was arrested by gardai a short distance away.

Sgt Callaghan said the man was very drunk at the time.

Defence solicitor Fiona D'Arcy said the man, who is single and has no previous convictions, is an alcoholic and his recollection of the incident is "very sketchy".

Ms D'Arcy said the defendant plans to go to AA meetings and the court case has been weighing very heavily on his mind and he has been unable to sleep.

hnews@herald.ie