A Dublin man has been jailed for 10 years for a rape he committed shortly after his release from a 14-year sentence for a previous rape.
James Donohue (39), of North Strand Road, who pleaded guilty to raping and assaulting a woman, causing her harm ,on May 17th, 2001, at a north Dublin flat, was released in 1999 from the 14-year term imposed on March 20th, 1991.
Garda Kieran Brady told the Central Criminal Court the 24-year-old victim was sleeping in her flat when she heard someone call her name and say there was a phone call for her on the communal phone shared by residents in the block.
The court heard the victim awoke to see Donohue sitting on her bed. She became very frightened and told him to leave, but he put his hand over her mouth and pushed her down on the bed.
As she struggled to get him off her he put his hands around her neck and "squeezed her windpipe". She managed to free herself from her grip and started screaming, the court was told.
Gda Brady said Donohue threatened to kill her if she screamed again and she saw that he had a steak knife with him.
Gda Brady said Donohue admitted to investigating gardaí he had sex with her the night before but said it had been consensual.
Mr Justice Kevin O'Higgins said despite his guilty plea Donohue still posed a danger to society and had to be imprisoned. He also added his name to the sexual offenders' register.