A MAN WILL be sentenced by Mr Justice Paul Carney at the Central Criminal Court today for attacking two women in north Dublin last year.
Patrick Fogarty (43), of no fixed abode but with relatives in Tipperary, admitted attacking a school teacher (25) as she walked along Velvet Strand, Portmarnock, in April 2007. Fogarty, born in Wolverhampton, England, also pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, aggravated sexual assault and false imprisonment of a homeless woman (49) in Malahide two days later.
Det Garda Brian Pentony told Martina Baxter, prosecuting, that the mother of three was woken on April 21st-22nd by a man coming into her hut with a dog. He said Fogarty tried to have sex with her and repeatedly hit her over the head while sexually assaulting her. She said she thought she was going to be raped and killed and the assault lasted all night.
Det Garda Pentony said they left together the following morning and, when Fogarty jumped over a wall, the victim ran to a friend's house. She showed gardaí his hat and the string he had used to tie her up.
Det Garda Pentony said the teacher was walking along the beach on April 24th, when a man with a dog struck her with a glass bottle and tried to drag her into bushes. He said Fogarty had her in a headlock with his hand over her mouth, but she bit him, broke free and shouted.
Fogarty ran along the beach to Malahide and his first victim's hut, Det Garda Petony said. "You're mine now. I'm staying here with you," he said. She said she was "rigid with fear".
Det Garda Pentony said he tied her up and abused her all night. Every time she said no, he hit her over the head. When she said someone might come in the morning to check on her, he dragged her out into bushes, where he tied her up again. She escaped and ran to a Garda station. He said she had black eyes, injuries to her ears, breasts, wrists and legs. She still suffers constant headaches from the blows to her head, is jumpy, afraid of the dark and cries a lot.
Det Garda Pentony said the other woman was treated for head lacerations, an injured neck and jaw and muscular spasm. She has since suffered panic attacks and is nervous of men, especially those with beards. She can no longer walk alone every day, be alone in public or use public transport and is wary of people with drink taken.
Fogarty had previous convictions throughout Britain for assault causing harm, possessing a blade, criminal damage and theft.
Luán Ó Braonáin SC, defending, said Fogarty handed himself into Malahide Garda station in November last year. He was homeless for more than half his life and came to Ireland in 2005. He had an alcohol problem and declined social welfare so he would not have money for drink. He scavenged for food and had become black from not washing.
Det Garda Pentony said a local man used to leave food out for him and gave him €350 before the attacks to visit his aunt in Tipperary. Instead he went on a four-day "bender" and attacked the women.