A DUBLIN man who was extradited from England has been remanded in custody for sentencing after pleading guilty to raping a former neighbour and friend of this girlfriend.
Eddie Fitzgerald (26), of Balcurris Road, Dublin, pleaded guilty before Mr Justice Kinlen to raping the woman on April 17th, 1993, in the Ballymun complex where they lived.
Mr Justice Kinlen agreed to a request from defence counsel, Mr Patrick Gageby SC, for the preparation of a probation report with emphasis on the accused man's heavy drinking at the time and the fact he had been laid off work as a butcher a short time previously.
He also ordered preparation of a victim impact assessment on the 40 year old woman. Fitzgerald will be sentenced on February 12th.
Insp Malachy Geraghty told prosecuting counsel, Mr Anthony Kennedy SC, that Fitzgerald knew the victim and had been a regular visitor to her flat with his girlfriend. He was quite drunk at the door of the woman's flat when he called after midnight.
Initially he said he wanted to sober up before going home to his girlfriend and eight year old daughter. After eating a takeaway meal and drinking one of six cans he made advances to her and despite her cries of "rape" he had intercourse with her against her will.
Insp Geraghty said that at about 3 a.m. Fitzgerald's girlfriend and daughter came to the flat and stayed the night. They told the victim a row had developed over his drinking.
The rape was reported to gardai the following evening when the victim told another friend in the area what had happened.
Gardai visited her and found her very distressed and emotional. She had bruising to her thighs and forensic evidence showed traces of semen on swabs. After he was charged, Fitzgerald absconded to England and had to be extradited last November.
