A Kilkenny man who kidnapped, raped and sexually assaulted a mentally impaired woman has been sentenced to 10 years by Mr Justice Kearns at the Central Criminal Court.
Edward Prendergast (63), of Oliver Plunkett Avenue, Graiguenamanagh, was found guilty of eight charges by a jury in June. Mr Denis Vaughan Buckley SC, prosecuting, said the victim and her family wanted Prendergast named in the media.
Mr Justice Kearns said it was a harrowing case and he found it hard to express his revulsion at the indignity inflicted on the victim, who was until then a happy, well-adjusted person. He said she now suffered from extreme anxiety and depression. He added that the defendant had shown no remorse or regret.
The jury convicted Prendergast on two charges of rape, three of having sexual intercourse with the 35-year-old woman, one of sexual assault using a bottle, two further sexual assault charges and one of falsely imprisoning her.
Prendergast had pleaded not guilty to 21 charges of rape, sexual assault and kidnapping. The offences were said to have happened between April 1996 and June 1997.
Prendergast claimed he had consensual sex with the victim on occasions and said she sent him notes proclaiming her love for him. He also claimed that the reason he was before the court was that he spurned her suggestions of marriage.
Mr Henry Abbott SC, defending, said the psychological report showed Prendergast was of low-average intelligence who began drinking heavily after his second wife died of a brain tumour in 1994.