Tweleve Year Sentence For Alcoholic Sex Attacker

A homeless alcoholic who held a woman prisoner overnight while sexually abusing her and who also attacked another woman has been given a long gaol sentence.

Dublin's Central Criminal Court heard that Patrick Fogarty, 43, a homeless alcoholic originally from England, attacked a woman who was walking on Portmarnock beach and then later, another woman whom he sexually assaulted and held prisoner over night.

Passing a 12-year sentence today Mr Justice Paul Carney said the appropriate sentence was really 15 years but he took into account the fact that Fogarty had handed himself into gardaí and had pleaded guilty at a early stage.

During yesterday's sentence hearing the court was told that Fogarty had attacked a school teacher on Portmarnock beach in April last year.

He had hit her over the head with a wine bottle and tried to drag her into nearby bushes.

She escaped by biting his hand while he had her in a headlock.

However, he later assaulted another woman - who was living rough in Malahide - and held her captive over night on two occasions while repeatedly assaulting her physically and sexually.

(BMcC)