Five years’ jail for man who followed and attacked woman

A man who followed a woman home and attacked her before threatening to sexually assault and kill her has been jailed for five years.

James Donoghue (51), told gardaí his intention was to sexually assault the woman and not to rob her on the night.

Donoghue, of Harold's Cross Road in Terenure, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to attempting to sexually assault her and threatening to kill or cause the woman serious harm on January 6th, 2014.

Judge Martin Nolan suspended the last two years of a seven-year prison sentence.

Garda Ciaran Mahoney told Anne-Marie Lawlor BL, prosecuting, that the woman was walking home from work to meet her husband at about midnight.

Donoghue walked behind the woman and lunged at her before telling her to turn off her mobile phone or he would kill her.

The defendant covered her eyes and mouth with his hands and hit her in the face. She managed to bite him on the finger before he ran away.

She told gardaí afterwards she thought he was going to take her eye out.

She rang gardaí and her husband and was brought to hospital with cuts to her face.

Donoghue was stopped by gardaí a short time later. He had bite marks on his hand and had traces of the victim’s DNA on a ring on his finger along with her bloodstains on his jacket.

Donoghue told gardaí it was his intention to sexually assault the woman and said he had been drinking that day.

His 13 previous convictions include serious assaults.

Completely changed

The victim said she moved to Ireland in 2011 and since the attack her life had completely changed.

She and her husband had decided to return to their home country, as the attack had had a huge psychological effect on her.

Defence counsel James Dwyer BL said Donoghue is “aware of the risks he poses to women” and is a person who recognises he has a serious problem.

“He had been on medication to suppress his sexual urges but he ceased taking it due to his own actions,” said Mr Dwyer.

‘Drinking heavily’

“He started drinking heavily and was off his medication, so his inhibitions were released and the victim happened to be the first person he saw,” explained Mr Dwyer. He said if Donoghue does take his medication he is stabilised.

Judge Martin Nolan said Donoghue was on the prowl at the time and encountered the woman, whom he attacked with the intention of committing sexual assault.

“It was a severe attack which left the woman traumatised,” said Judge Nolan, adding he believes the defendant is incapable of changing his behaviour.

“He has a serious problem and has engaged with the probation services, but nonetheless he still committed it,” said Judge Nolan as he handed down the sentence.