Ireland Case No. 4920Sexual assault · Co. Westmeath
Jury to consider verdict in trial of fitness coach accused of sexual assault during massage, Mullingar
A man in his 30s, a fitness coach who is not named due to reporting restrictions, has been charged with sexual assault of a woman in her 20s during a massage for back pain at a gym in the midlands in 2021; no exact date was given. The woman, who has scoliosis, told the jury the man asked if she wanted a "happy ending" massage, touched her breasts and vagina, and said he was getting hard while working on her, and the accused denies sexually assaulting her. The man has pleaded not guilty to sexual assault by touching her pubic area, vagina, breasts and buttocks. The trial began on Tuesday 15 October 2024 before Judge Ronan Munro and a jury at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court, and on 18 October, day four, the judge told jurors to resume deliberating on their verdict on Tuesday.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court15 Oct
3 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- The woman, in her 20s, has back pain due to scoliosis and attended an in-person appointment with the man after an earlier online programme with him about her back problem, diet and exercises.
- The complainant told the jury that the man asked if she wanted a "happy ending" massage.
- The complainant said the man touched her breasts and vagina during the massage, and she had to remove her clothing apart from a thong.
- The complainant said the man told her he was getting hard while working on her and that he would finish her off in 30 seconds with just his hands.
- The complainant said the man told her "You're bold, you're bold, I would say you're wild"; she denied telling him she was wild.
- The complainant said she received a WhatsApp message with exercise information shortly after she left, and an Instagram message two hours later reading "Testosterone went through the roof; I didn't expect that".
- The complainant told a friend shortly after she left and her sister later that day, and her sister said she seemed "flustered" and needed time to think.
- Where
- The alleged assault took place at a gym in the midlands, in Mullingar.
- When
- The alleged offence took place in 2021 on a date that was not given in the reports.
- Investigation
- In his Garda interview the accused said he did not touch the complainant's vagina.
- Other details
- The accused denies sexually assaulting a woman during a massage for severe back pain, and the prosecution contended that the conduct crossed the threshold of indecency.
- Charges
- The man has pleaded not guilty to sexual assault by touching the woman's pubic area, vagina, breasts and buttocks at a gym in the midlands in 2021.
- In court
- The trial began on 15 October 2024 before Judge Ronan Munro and a jury of nine men and three women at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court.
- On 18 October, day four of the trial, the judge told jurors they must resume deliberating on their verdict on Tuesday.
37 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe woman told a jury that the man touched her breasts during treatment for back pain. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe woman said the man told her, 'This never happened to me before, but I'm getting hard working on you.' (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe woman has back pain due to scoliosis. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatShe attended an in-person appointment following an earlier online programme about her back problem, diet and exercises. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatShe had to remove her clothing apart from a thong for the massage. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHe asked if she wanted a 'happy ending' massage. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHe touched her breasts and vagina during the massage. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHe told her 'You're bold, you're bold, I would say you're wild' and 'I'm getting hard working on you'. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatShe received a WhatsApp message with information on exercises shortly after she left. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatShe received an Instagram message two hours later reading 'Testosterone went through the roof; I didn't expect that'. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatShe had been doing an online training programme about her back problem with the accused for a few weeks before the appointment. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatShe had rated her discomfort level as six out of ten. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatShe remained at the gym for an hour and a half. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatShe spent the last 20 minutes doing exercises with another member of staff. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatShe told a friend shortly after she left and her sister later that day. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHer sister said the complainant seemed 'flustered' and needed time to think. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe accused denies sexually assaulting a woman during a massage for severe back pain. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe complainant alleged the accused asked if she had ever had a massage with a happy ending. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe complainant alleged the accused said he was getting hard while working on her. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe complainant alleged the accused told her he would finish her off in 30 seconds with just his hands. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe alleged assault took place at a gym in the midlands. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe alleged sexual assault took place at a gym in the midlands. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe alleged assault took place on a date in 2021. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe alleged offence took place in 2021. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThe accused has pleaded not guilty to sexual assault by touching the woman's pubic area, vagina, breasts and buttocks. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe man has pleaded not guilty to sexual assault at a gym in the midlands on a date in 2021. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe trial began before Judge Ronan Munro and a jury at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial was set to continue the following day. (irishtimes.com)
- courtIt was day two of the trial before Judge Ronan Munro and a jury of nine men and three women. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe trial continues on Thursday. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe trial is at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe judge told jurors they must resume deliberating on their verdict on Tuesday. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe prosecution told the jury of nine men and three women that they had to consider all the evidence. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe accused is not being named due to reporting restrictions. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe prosecution contended that the conduct crossed the threshold of indecency. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe accused sent the complainant a message saying testosterone went through the roof. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherIn his Garda interview the accused said he did not touch the complainant's vagina. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 18 Oct2024Jury to consider evidence as woman alleges 'happy ending' ask during treatment
Reports the fourth day of the trial at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court, the closing speeches, and the complainant's and accused's accounts. The accused is not named because of reporting restrictions.
accused, 30s, malevictim, 20s, female - 16 Oct2024Woman denies telling male massage therapist 'I would be wild', court hears
Day two of the trial; the complainant testifies about the massage, denies the defence characterisation of her words, and describes receiving a text saying 'testosterone went through the roof'.
victim, 20s, femaleaccused, 30s, male - 15 Oct2024Woman (20s) who claims man sexually assaulted her during treatment ‘froze’ when he told her he was ‘getting hard’
Covers the opening of the trial at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court, including the complainant's evidence and the prosecution opening. The accused has pleaded not guilty.
victim, 20s, femaleaccused, 30s, male