Man guilty of woman's assault and abduction

A man has been found guilty by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of abducting and assaulting an American woman in 1999.

A man has been found guilty by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of abducting and assaulting an American woman in 1999.

Barry Fitzgerald (31), formerly of Wolverton Glen, Dalkey, and with an address at Martello Road, Sandycove, was remanded in custody for sentence on November 2nd by Judge Patrick McCartan.

The woman told the jury how she jumped from Fitzgerald's car as it slowed down on a bend at Kilternan in the Dublin mountains.

He had told her he was driving her from Wolverton Glen in Dalkey to Wynn's Hotel in Dublin's city centre where she was staying while on holidays with friends.

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It was day four of the trial and the jury reached its decision on the verdicts after six hours. It convicted Fitzgerald by a majority verdict of 10-1 of false imprisonment and of assault causing harm to the then 28-year-old woman on July 29th, 1999.

Returning from the US to give evidence at the trial, she told the jury she met Fitzgerald in a pub in Temple Bar in the city centre and they went to a club together. He offered her a lift afterwards to Wynn's Hotel in Lower Abbey Street but instead drove to his home in Dalkey.

When she became uncomfortable, he said they were going to his house for coffee. She went into the house reluctantly and after he brought them both cups of coffee, he made a lunge for her breasts and held her in a bear hug when she tried to get away.

Her lips were cut in the struggle because she had braces on her teeth. She told the jury how she continued to struggle and scream hoping to attract help and at one stage tore down shades on his patio door.

She said she wanted to get a taxi back to the hotel but he told her there would be none at that time. He said he would drive her back, and she agreed because she felt she had no choice.

Fitzgerald then took what was called in court an "insane" route through the Dublin mountains.

Fitzgerald denied in evidence asking the woman if she would like to be raped as he drove her back to the city centre on a route which took them through the mountains.

He claimed that he took that route to avoid any Garda checkpoints as he was fearful of being caught drink-driving.