Woman Jailed for Assaulting Acquaintance in Dublin Luas Stop Dispute, Ireland

A woman has been sentenced to three years in jail after sexually assaulting an acquaintance by forcing her to strip naked at a Luas stop in Dublin. The 49-year-old woman, whose identity is protected, appeared before the Central Criminal Court and pleaded guilty to sexual assault and robbery. The incident occurred on January 26th, 2023. The victim, a 38-year-old woman, shared a taxi with the accused, but a dispute about money erupted when she refused to let a co-accused man into the vehicle. Later, the victim was found very upset and undressed at a Luas stop. She reported being dragged out of the taxi by her hair, punched, and forced to strip. The attackers threatened to kill her and throw her into the canal. Thankfully, nearby individuals intervened and forced the attackers to return a stolen mobile phone. The victim suffered bruises and cuts but had no injuries to her vaginal area. She has experienced significant psychological trauma from the incident, including social anxiety, difficulty sleeping and eating, as well as flashbacks and thoughts of self-harm. The accused, who has 49 previous convictions and a history of drug abuse, expressed remorse and received a four-year prison sentence, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. The judge commended the intervention of the witnesses and the protection they provided to the victim.