A Clare man who sexually assaulted a woman living on her own has been sentenced to four years by Mr Justice Carney at the Central Criminal Court.
Gerard Maxwell (24), of Church View, Sixmilebridge, pleaded guilty to one charge each of sexual assault and assault causing harm on the woman on October 4th, 2000.
Mr Justice Carney noted he was jailing Maxwell at the lowest possible end of the spectrum for such an offence because the victim declined to participate in the court proceedings. He suspended the final 18 months unconditionally because, he said, Maxwell pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.