A convicted double-rapist will be sentenced on Friday for the rape of a foreign national in the city last year.
David Hegarty (32) from Cork was jailed on March 4th, 2000 for 10 years for raping two female students in Cork city centre on October 5th and October 27th, 1998.
Hegarty, a father of one, with a former address at Nutley Road, Mahon had been released from prison just two years before he raped the foreign national in the early hours of the morning of May 22nd, 2008.
He was caught near the scene by Garda Aidan O’Mahony after a member of the public telephoned gardai and remained on the line while keeping Hegarty in view until a patrol car arrived. He pleaded guilty to the crime.
The victim told Mr Justice Paul Carney at the Central Criminal Court: “I will never forgive him for what he did and I will never forget it.”
She said Hegarty’s attack on her had “totally changed my lifestyle” and left her afraid to walk anywhere on her own. She had become suspicious of men and didn’t feel safe on her own anymore.
The woman said she also suffered sleepless nights, needing indication to help her sleep at all and she was still having regular counselling.
“Counselling is the only place where I can talk openly about what happened.”
Hegarty said in evidence he wished to apologise to her and say he was sorry. He said he would “wholeheartedly co-operate” with any treatment he might be offered in prison.
Detective Garda John McDonagh told prosecuting counsel the victim was waiting for a bus in the early hours of the morning when Hegarty grabbed her around the neck and dragged her to a lane.
She screamed and he threatened to kill her unless she stopped. Hegarty then raped her.
Det Gda McDonagh said the victim tried to get the attention of a member of the public in a vehicle. Gardai got a phone call from a man who kept Hegarty in view all the time. When a patrol car arrived, Hegarty tried to escape but was detained by Garda Aidan O’Mahony.
Hegarty was very drunk at the time and later made some admissions, including that there had been oral sex, and he was sorry he had hurt the woman.
Mr Justice Paul Carney said: “He has committed three rapes and that his raises inference in my mind that he will do so again at the first possible opportunity and that the appropriate sentence is one of life imprisonment.”
The judge noted, however, he had imposed a life sentence in a such a case but the Court of Criminal Appeal had said he couldn’t impose a life sentence.
“In this judgement dated July 31st, 2008, the CCA states I cannot protect the citizens of the State,” he said.
Mr Justice Carney said he would hear submissions on this issue on Friday and remanded Hegarty in custody.