Ireland Man sentenced for sexual assault of friend in Dublin
On May 7th, 2018, Robert Dunne, a 27-year-old man from Ballinlow, Gorey, Co Wexford, sexually assaulted a 24-year-old woman, his friend, at his rented home in Dublin. Dunne was interviewed by gardaí in July 2019 and said the sex was consensual, and he later pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault after an initial rape charge was replaced. At the Central Criminal Court, Mr Justice Paul McDermott set a headline sentence of four years and imposed three years on each count, to run concurrently, with the final 18 months suspended for two years. The latest development, reported on July 28th, 2023, is that Dunne was sentenced and the woman waived her anonymity to allow him to be named.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced28 Jul
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A woman woke to find Dunne digitally penetrating her, and he later assaulted her again in the same way.
- Where
- The offences took place at Dunne's rented home in Dublin after the two had spent the evening together.
- When
- The offences occurred on May 7th, 2018.
- Cause
- The woman said she had drunk alcohol and taken cocaine with Dunne before going to his home, and she had fallen asleep after saying she wanted to stop.
- Investigation
- Dunne was interviewed by gardaí in July 2019 and claimed the sex was consensual.
- Charges
- Dunne had initially faced a rape charge, which was replaced by pleas to two counts of sexual assault.
- Dunne pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault.
- In court
- The guilty plea was entered at Islandbridge, Dublin 8, before the Central Criminal Court.
- The woman read a victim impact statement to the court, and Mr Justice Paul McDermott passed sentence.
- Sentence
- The judge set a headline sentence of four years.
- Dunne was sentenced to three years on each count, to run concurrently, with the final 18 months suspended for two years under strict conditions.
- Other details
- Dunne had no previous convictions.
- The woman waived her anonymity to allow Dunne to be named in the reporting of the case.
15 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe woman woke to find Dunne digitally penetrating her. (irishtimes.com)
- whatDunne later sexually assaulted the woman again in the same way. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe offences occurred on May 7th, 2018. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationDunne was interviewed by gardaí in July 2019 and claimed the sex was consensual. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeDunne pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeDunne had initially faced a charge of rape, which was replaced by pleas to two counts of sexual assault. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe guilty plea was entered at Islandbridge, Dublin 8. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe woman read a victim impact statement to the court. (irishtimes.com)
- courtMr Justice Paul McDermott passed sentence. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of four years. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceDunne was sentenced to three years in prison on each of the two counts, to run concurrently. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe final 18 months were suspended for two years under strict conditions. (irishtimes.com)
- otherDunne is from Ballinlow, Gorey, Co Wexford. (irishtimes.com)
- otherDunne and the woman had alcohol and cocaine together before going to his rented home. (irishtimes.com)
- otherDunne had no previous convictions. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 28 Jul2023‘Part of me died in that room’: Woman waives anonymity to name friend who sexually assaulted her
Sentencing report: adds the sentence (three years on each count, concurrent, final 18 months suspended), the judge's headline sentence of four years, the victim impact statement, and the mitigating factors.
convicted, Robert Dunne, 27, male, named, irish (judged from name)Robert Dunnevictim, 24, female