A 26-year-old Roscommon man who attempted to rape a girl he had been dancing with in a disco has been jailed for 18 months by Mr Justice Carney at the Central Criminal Court.
The man, who was 22 at the time of the incident, pleaded guilty to one count of attempted rape of the then 19-year-old woman on April 4th, 1999, in a Co Roscommon town.
Garda Caitríona Mulvey said the defendant and the victim were near neighbours who had been intimate to some extent on two previous occasions.
They met again in a disco on April 4th, 1999, which was the Easter weekend, and enjoyed a few dances together.
They kissed a few times and he asked her if she wanted to return to his house.
Garda Mulvey said the woman had not wanted to go his home with him but had agreed to go to a chip shop instead.
Outside the disco he told her he was feeling a bit drunk and would prefer to go for a walk.
After exchanging a few kisses he asked her if she would have sex with him.
Garda Mulvey said he became violent when she refused and pulled her down to the tarmac on the ground. He covered her mouth with his hand to prevent her from screaming and after pulling his and her clothes down, attempted to rape her.
He told her he would take his hand off her mouth if she promised not to scream. When he gave her the freedom, she was able to run away. He apologised to her as she made her getaway.
The victim told Mr Justice Carney that she had to undergo counselling to cope with the trauma.
Mr Patrick Gageby SC, defence counsel, said the offence was out of character for his client, who had never before been in trouble with the law.
Mr Gageby presented several character references and added that the case had been hanging over his client for years, his trial having been postponed twice.
Mr Justice Carney suspended the last six months of the sentence, taking into account the convicted man's previous good character, the strong character references on his behalf and the inability of the justice system to deal expeditiously with the case.