A former Slovakian policeman has been convicted at the Central Criminal Court of raping a woman in his Sligo home last year.
Ladislav Pavlak, a 36-year-old divorced father, with an address at Ougham, Riverstown, was remanded in custody for sentencing by Mr Justice Eamon de Valera who also directed that his name be entered on the register of certified sex offenders.
Pavlak was found guilty by a 10-2 majority of raping the then 20-year-old woman on August 14th, 2006, and by 11-1 majority of sexually assaulting her on the same occasion.
Mr Justice de Valera exempted the jurors from jury service for 10 years and told them they could "take pride and satisfaction" from their work in what he said was a difficult case.
The victim told prosecuting counsel, Mary Ellen Ring SC (with Eileen O'Leary BL), she was raped by Pavlak while sleeping over in his house by arrangement with her family who had sought his help in finding her a job.
Her mother and other family members described how she called them by phone in the early hours of the morning asking to be picked up while she walked from Riverstown to another Sligo town after the rape.
Pavlak was awoken by being slapped on the face by the victim's mother who demanded to know what he had done to her daughter.
He was then punched and kicked by members of the family and locked himself in the house for safety.
Pavlak gave evidence denying he raped the woman and claiming they had consensual sex the previous week when the victim also stayed over by arrangement following a party at his home.