A Limerick man who raped a foreign national in a quiet suburban area after telling her they were going to meet some friends has been jailed for seven years by Mr Justice Paul Carney at the Central Criminal Court yesterday.
Gordon Fitzgerald (18), The Oval, Gouldavoher, pleaded guilty to raping the 49-year-old woman on September 11th, 2005m at Sluggary, Dooradoyle.
He also admitted two counts of assault causing her harm, threatening to kill or cause serious harm to her, and to robbing her.
The victim told Seán Gillane, prosecuting, that her dream of a new life in Ireland had been shattered by Fitzgerald.
"As a result of being raped I have changed completely as a person. I no longer trust people or take people at face value," she said.
"He not only violated my body but he violated my mind. It has taken me several months to realise that just because a woman may walk alone at night this is not an invitation to be violently attacked."
She said Fitzgerald punched her so hard, it was as if she was an animal.
"You ignored my screams of pain, shock and terror. You threatened to kill me and I truly believed you would kill me that night."
Garda Alison Carroll told Mr Gillane that Fitzgerald had taken the victim's trousers down before forcing himself on top of her.
This lasted for five or 10 minutes before he told her to get up and pushed her to another area where he pushed her to the ground again.
When she returned home, her housemate noticed her bloodied face and immediately reported the incident to the gardaí.
Fitzgerald was arrested the following day and while he initially claimed the sex had been consensual, he later admitted to rape. He said he had been drinking and had taken cocaine, speed and hash.
He also admitted hitting her with his fist above the eye.
Niall Durnin SC, defending, urged Mr Justice Carney to take his client's young age into consideration.
Mr Justice Carney who heard Fitzgerald has a number of previous convictions for criminal damage, public order offences, theft and threatening to kill, said the "derisory penalty" imposed for the threat to kill on the last occasion may have led Fitzgerald to conclude this was a derisory crime.
He said the victim in this case had been convinced she would die.
Mr Justice Carney said the only matter of substance in Fitzgerald's favour was his plea of guilty. He unconditionally suspended the last 12 months of the seven-year sentence in view of the guilty plea and he ordered a five-year period of post-release supervision.