Ireland Case No. 20740Aggravated sexual assault · Co. Cork · 7 Nov 2021
Man sentenced for aggravated sexual assault in Fermoy park
A woman in her 50s was sexually assaulted at St Colman's Park in Fermoy, Co Cork, on 7 November 2021 when Vadim Veste, a 28-year-old (reports differ, 29) dual Moldovan-Romanian national, pulled her to the ground from behind, punched her, and touched her genital area while she was walking her dog. Veste was arrested on 9 November 2021 after his DNA was found under the victim's fingernails and a woolly hat containing her DNA was found in his home. He pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual assault at the Central Criminal Court in March 2023, and on 12 June 2023 was sentenced to six years and six months in prison, with the final six months suspended for two years, plus a six-year post-release supervision order.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court13 Mar
6 reports - Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced12 Jun
4 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Veste pulled the woman to the ground from behind, punched her, placed a woolly hat in her mouth, pinned her with his knees, and touched her genital area.
- Where
- The assault took place at St Colman's Park in Fermoy, Co Cork.
- When
- The assault occurred at around 6.30pm on 7 November 2021.
- Cause
- The woman was walking her dog in the park on a dark evening when she was grabbed from behind.
- Investigation
- Veste was identified after his DNA was found under the victim's fingernails and a woolly hat containing the victim's DNA was found during a search of his home.
- Charges
- Veste pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual assault and to a charge of assault causing harm.
- In court
- The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork before Mr Justice Paul McDermott.
- Sentence
- Veste was sentenced to six years and six months in prison, with the final six months suspended for two years, a six-year post-release supervision order, and a no-contact order.
- Other details
- Veste had previously served a three-year prison sentence in Moldova for the rape of a 14-year-old girl in 2016 and had additional convictions for burglary and possession of drugs.
- Veste was released from prison in Moldova on 11 December 2020 and arrived in Ireland on 29 December 2020 to live with his mother in Fermoy, where he worked in a meat factory.
133 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe attacker came from behind, put his hand over her mouth, pushed her to the ground, and put a woolen hat into her mouth (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe victim thought she was going to die and could feel her breathing stop (thejournal.ie)
- whatTwo men who were exercising nearby heard her scream and came to her aid (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe woman has not walked in the area since the attack due to fear of being attacked again (thejournal.ie)
- whatVeste pinned the victim to the ground using his knees on her arms and upper body and touched her genital area (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe victim scratched and bit the suspect and in the struggle the hat came out of her mouth (thejournal.ie)
- whatVeste had been released from custody in Moldova some months before the attack and travelled to Ireland to be with his mother who was living and working in Fermoy (thejournal.ie)
- whatVeste was working in a meat factory in Fermoy (thejournal.ie)
- whatVeste also had convictions for a burglary offence and possession of drugs for his own use (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe accused put his hand around her neck and mouth and pulled her to the ground. (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe knelt on her arms, pinning her to the ground. (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe forced a woolly hat into her mouth to stop her screaming. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe woman feared she was going to die during the assault. (irishtimes.com)
- whatShe freed one arm, scratched him on the face, bit him on the thumb, and screamed for help. (irishtimes.com)
- whatVestes got up and walked away when he heard people coming. (irishtimes.com)
- whatVestes was identified as a meat factory worker with an address at Clancy Street, Fermoy. (irishtimes.com)
- whatVestes was a Moldovan national with dual Moldovan/Romanian citizenship. (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe had been released from a prison sentence in Moldova less than three weeks before arriving in Ireland. (irishtimes.com)
- whatVestes had served three years for the rape of a minor in Moldova in 2016. (irishtimes.com)
- whatVestes also had convictions for burglary and possession of drugs for personal use. (irishtimes.com)
- whatVeste pulled the woman to the ground from behind and dragged her into a dark, unlit part of a walkway (corkbeo.ie)
- whatHe punched her, placed his hand under her dress, and touched her in the vaginal area outside her underwear (corkbeo.ie)
- whatThe victim told the court she thought she was going to die during the assault (corkbeo.ie)
- whatThe victim said she thought her daughter would have to come to identify her body in the park (corkbeo.ie)
- whatTwo men in the park came to the victim's assistance during the assault (corkbeo.ie)
- whatVeste pulled the woman to the ground from behind, punched her, and placed his hand under her dress. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatVeste is a Moldovan national who also holds Romanian citizenship. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatVeste served a three-year prison sentence in Moldova for the rape of a 14-year-old girl in 2016. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe victim said she thought she was going to die during the assault. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatTwo men in the park came to the victim's assistance. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe victim gave up going for walks and said she will not go out after dark. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe woman was out walking her dog and on her mobile phone when she was pulled to the ground from behind by Veste in a dark, unlit part of a walkway. (rte.ie)
- whatVeste punched her on the side of her face and sexually assaulted her. (rte.ie)
- whatThe victim told the court she thought her daughter would end up having to identify her body in the park. (rte.ie)
- whatThe victim said she assumed she would die in the course of the attack. (rte.ie)
- whatThe victim said the assault had changed her life. (rte.ie)
- whatThe victim was grateful to two men in the park who came to her assistance. (rte.ie)
- whatVadim Veste is a Moldovan-Romanian national (gript.ie)
- whatVeste punched the woman and violently threw her to the ground before placing his hand under her clothes (gript.ie)
- whatTwo men out walking in the park heard the woman's screams and ran to her aid, preventing further attack (gript.ie)
- whatVeste walked calmly out of the park after the assault (gript.ie)
- whatVeste put his hand over the woman's mouth and wrestled her to the ground (gript.ie)
- whatThe woman scratched Veste's face with one free hand (gript.ie)
- whatThe woman was walking her dog on a dark evening around 6pm when she was pulled to the ground. (rte.ie)
- whatThe woman suffered nasty injuries in the attack. (rte.ie)
- whatThe woman was out walking her dog on a dark evening when she was pulled to the ground. (irishtimes.com)
- whatVadim Veste pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual assault of the woman. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe woman was pulled forcibly to the ground. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe woman was taken to the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit at the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital for a medical examination. (irishtimes.com)
- whereVeste had an address in Clancy Street, Fermoy (gript.ie)
- whereThe assault took place at St Colman's Park in Fermoy, Co Cork. (rte.ie)
- whereThe assault happened at St Colman’s Park in Fermoy. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe assault took place at St Colman's Park in Fermoy, County Cork. (corkbeo.ie)
- whereThe assault took place in St Colman's Park in Fermoy, Co Cork. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenVestes was arrested on 9 November 2021. (irishtimes.com)
- whenVestes came to Ireland on 29 December 2020. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe woman was out walking her dog at around 6.30pm on 7 November 2021 when she was grabbed from behind (corkbeo.ie)
- whenVeste arrived in Ireland on 29 December 2020, 18 days after being released from prison (corkbeo.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- whenVeste moved to Ireland eleven months before the assault (corkbeo.ie)
- whenThe assault occurred at around 6.30pm on 7 November 2021. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe assault took place on 7 November 2021. (rte.ie, corkbeo.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe assault happened on 7 November 2021. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe woman was walking her dog in the park on a dark evening around 6pm when she was pulled forcibly to the ground. (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationThe victim received a forensic examination at the local Sexual Assault Treatment Unit where skin from the attacker was found under her fingernails (thejournal.ie)
- investigationGardaí searched Veste's home and found a woolen hat containing DNA from the victim (thejournal.ie)
- investigationVeste was arrested just days after the incident and initially claimed the incident was due to a row over the dog before admitting the sexual assault (thejournal.ie)
- investigationGardaí obtained previous convictions from Interpol for Veste from Moldova including the sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl (thejournal.ie)
- investigationGardaí set up an incident room at Fermoy Garda Station and harvested hours of CCTV footage from the area. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationOfficers carried out door-to-door inquiries and took witness statements. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí identified Veste as a suspect after his DNA was found under the woman's fingernails (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationThe woman's DNA was found on Veste's hair (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationVeste was identified from DNA evidence retrieved from under the victim's nails after she scratched his face trying to escape. (rte.ie)
- investigationA woolly item Veste had shoved in the victim's mouth was found during a search of his room. (rte.ie)
- investigationCCTV footage from the local area led to Veste's arrest. (rte.ie, irishtimes.com, corkbeo.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- investigationVeste's DNA was found under the woman's fingernails. (rte.ie, irishtimes.com, corkbeo.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- chargeVeste was charged under Section 2 of the Criminal Law Rape Amendment Act 1990, as amended by Section 37 of the Sex Offender Act 2000 (thejournal.ie)
- chargeHe also pleaded to a charge of assault causing harm under Section 3 of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 (thejournal.ie)
- chargeVeste pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual assault of a woman in her 50s in a park in Fermoy on November 7, 2021 (gript.ie)
- chargeVeste pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual assault of the woman. (rte.ie, irishtimes.com)
- courtThe woman delivered a victim impact statement at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork (thejournal.ie)
- courtVeste has been remanded in custody since being charged (thejournal.ie)
- courtJudge Paul McDermott ordered a probation report and adjourned the case for sentence until 12 June (thejournal.ie)
- courtDefence counsel Seamus Roche SC applied to have the matter adjourned to obtain a psychological report on Vestes. (irishtimes.com)
- courtMr Justice Paul McDermott ordered a probation report on the accused. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe matter was adjourned until 12 June for sentence. (irishtimes.com)
- courtDefence barrister Seamus Roche SC applied for an adjournment to allow a psychological report to be compiled (corkbeo.ie)
- courtFree legal aid was granted to pay for the psychological assessment and to facilitate an interpreter (corkbeo.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- courtMr Justice McDermott requested a probation report be compiled before the next court appearance (corkbeo.ie)
- courtThe next court appearance is set for 12 June at the Central Criminal Court (corkbeo.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- courtVeste was remanded in custody pending his next court appearance (corkbeo.ie, irishmirror.ie, rte.ie)
- courtVeste has been in custody since November 2021 (corkbeo.ie)
- courtThe defence applied for an adjournment to allow a psychological report to be prepared. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtJudge McDermott requested a probation report before the next appearance. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe defence applied for an adjournment to allow preparation of a psychological report, and free legal aid was granted to pay for the assessment and to facilitate an interpreter. (rte.ie)
- courtMr Justice McDermott requested a probation report be compiled before the next court appearance on 12 June at the Central Criminal Court in Cork. (rte.ie)
- courtVeste pleaded guilty with the assistance of an interpreter (gript.ie)
- courtJudge Paul McDermott ordered a probation report (gript.ie)
- courtThe case was adjourned until 12 June for sentencing (gript.ie)
- courtMr Justice Paul McDermott sentenced Veste at the Central Criminal Court. (rte.ie, irishtimes.com)
- courtVeste pleaded guilty before the Central Criminal Court to aggravated sexual assault. (corkbeo.ie)
- courtJustice Paul McDermott sentenced Veste. (corkbeo.ie)
- courtThe judge set a headline sentence of nine years before mitigating factors were considered. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of nine years before mitigation. (rte.ie, corkbeo.ie)
- sentenceVeste was sentenced to six years and six months in prison, with the final six months suspended for two years. (rte.ie, irishtimes.com)
- sentenceVeste was ordered not to approach the victim or her family. (rte.ie, irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceVeste was placed under a six-year post-release supervision order. (rte.ie, irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceVeste was sentenced to six years and six months, with the final six months suspended for two years. (corkbeo.ie)
- sentenceVeste received a six-year post-release supervision order. (corkbeo.ie)
- sentenceVeste was sentenced to six years and six months in prison. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe final six months were suspended for two years on strict conditions. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceVeste was ordered to have no unsupervised access to children. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherVeste is a Moldovan national who also has Romanian citizenship (corkbeo.ie, rte.ie)
- otherVeste had served a three-year prison sentence in Moldova for the rape of a 14-year-old girl in 2016 (corkbeo.ie)
- otherVeste also has drug convictions and convictions for breaking and entering in Moldova (corkbeo.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- otherVeste was a married man with children employed in a meat factory in Cork (corkbeo.ie)
- otherVeste travelled to Ireland in 2020 just over a fortnight after being released from prison for the rape of a minor. (rte.ie)
- otherVeste was released from prison on December 11, 2020 (gript.ie)
- otherVeste served a three-year sentence for the rape of a 14-year-old girl (gript.ie)
- otherVeste travelled to Ireland 18 days after his release from prison (gript.ie, corkbeo.ie)
- otherVeste has criminal convictions for drug use and breaking and entering (gript.ie)
- otherVeste was working in a meat processing plant after arriving in Ireland (gript.ie)
- otherVeste used a hat as a gag to stop the woman crying out. (rte.ie, irishtimes.com)
- otherVeste travelled to Ireland 18 days after being released from prison, where he had served a sentence for the rape of a minor. (rte.ie)
- otherA Probation Service report raised a serious concern about Veste's lack of insight and acceptance. (rte.ie)
- otherThe judge noted Veste had a previous conviction for the rape of a 14-year-old. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe judge described the assault as shocking, brutal and cowardly. (corkbeo.ie)
- otherVeste used a hat as a gag and his knees to hold the woman down. (corkbeo.ie)
- otherThe woman was attacked from behind while alone in a dark park. (corkbeo.ie)
- otherVeste had a previous conviction for raping a 14-year-old girl and had been released from a three-year sentence for it. (corkbeo.ie)
- otherA Probation Service report raised a serious concern about Veste's lack of insight. (corkbeo.ie)
- otherThe woman was walking her dog in the park on a dark evening around 6pm. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherVeste used a hat as a gag and used his knees to hold the woman down. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherVeste had previously served a three-year prison sentence for the rape of a 14-year-old girl. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 13 Jun2023Convicted rapist jailed for 'cowardly sexual assault' on woman walking her dog
Sentencing report at the Central Criminal Court. Adds the guilty plea, the sentence and conditions, the victim's injuries and the CCTV-led arrest. Also gives Veste's prior rape conviction and the judge's remarks on his attitude and probation concerns.
convicted, Vadim Veste, 28, male, Moldovan-Romanian, named, non-irishVadim Vestevictim, 50s, female - 12 Jun2023Convicted rapist who attacked woman walking dog in Cork Park jailed for 6 years
Reports the sentencing of Vadim Veste, the court's comments on the attack, his previous rape conviction, the Probation Service report and the sentence terms. No earlier article about this case is in the list.
convicted, Vadim Veste, 28, male, Moldovan-Romanian, named, non-irishVadim Vestevictim, 50s, female - 12 Jun2023Man jailed for six years for ‘shocking, brutal and cowardly sexual assault’ on woman walking her dog
Article gives the sentence as six years and six months, with the final six months suspended for two years, and sets out the sentencing judge's remarks, the CCTV-led arrest, DNA evidence and a six-year post-release supervision order.
convicted, Vadim Veste, 28, male, Moldovan-Romanian, named, non-irishVadim Vestevictim, 50s, female - 12 Jun2023Man jailed for six years for 'brutal' sexual assault
Reports the sentencing: six years and six months in prison with the final six months suspended for two years, a six-year post-release supervision order, and a no-contact order. Adds the judge's remarks, the DNA evidence, the CCTV-led arrest and the accused's prior conviction and release history.
convicted, Vadim Veste, 28, male, Moldovan-Romanian, named, non-irishVadim Vestevictim, 50s, female - 14 Mar2023Moldovan rapist who violently attacked woman in Cork came to Ireland 18 days after release from prison for rape - Gript
Provides the victim's detailed account of the assault, Veste's prior conviction for rape of a 14-year-old girl and release date (11 December 2020), his arrival in Ireland 18 days later, his other convictions for drug use and breaking and entering, his employment in a meat processing plant, and the court adjournment to 12 June 2023 for sentencing before Judge Paul McDermott.
victim, 50s, femaleaccused, Vadim Veste, 28, male, Moldovan-Romanian, named, non-irishVadim Veste - 13 Mar2023Attacked woman thought she was going to die, court told
Adds the victim's testimony at the sentencing hearing, details of how Veste was identified (DNA under the victim's nails and a woolly item found in his room), his travel to Ireland in 2020 after release from prison for rape of a minor in Moldova, and the adjournment to 12 June 2023.
victim, 50s, femaleaccused, Vadim Veste, 28, male, Moldovan, named, non-irishVadim Veste - 13 Mar2023Woman sexually assaulted in Cork park tells of fear that she was going to die
Adds the victim's impact statement, Veste's criminal history in Moldova (three-year sentence for rape of a 14-year-old in 2016, drug and burglary convictions), his arrival in Ireland on 29 December 2020, and the court's order for a probation report and psychological assessment before the 12 June sentencing hearing.
victim, 50s, femalesuspect, Vadim Veste, 28, male, Moldovan, named, non-irishVadim Veste - 13 Mar2023Victim of sexual assault tells Cork court 'I thought I was going to die'
Reports the plea and victim impact statement at the Central Criminal Court; details Veste's prior conviction for rape of a 14-year-old in Moldova; defence applied for a psychological report and free legal aid; case adjourned to 12 June 2023; Veste remanded in custody.
victim, 50s, femaleaccused, Vadim Veste, 28, male, Moldovan, named, non-irishVadim Veste - 13 Mar2023Woman tells how she feared she was going to die when man sexually assaulted her in Fermoy park
Victim's statement at sentencing hearing; investigation details from Det Garda David Barry including CCTV, DNA evidence and door-to-door inquiries; defence applied for adjournment for psychological report; case adjourned to 12 June 2023 for sentence.
victim, femaleaccused, Vadim Vestes, 28, male, Moldovan, named, non-irishVadim Vestes - 13 Mar2023'I thought I was going to die': Woman speaks of moment she was sexually assaulted in park
Victim impact statement delivered at sentencing hearing; details of the attack described including the woolen hat and two men who came to her aid; previous Moldovan convictions disclosed including sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl; defence applied for psychological report; sentencing adjourned to 12 June 2023
victim, femaleconvicted, Vadim Veste, 29, male, Moldovan, named, non-irishVadim Veste