A WATERFORD businessman is offering compensation to a Croatian prostitute he raped in a hotel after hiring her from a Cork-based escorts agency.
Billy Keogh (46), a married man and father of six of Wilder, Kilmeaden, Co Waterford, had been due for sentence yesterday at the Central Criminal Court following his conviction on the rape charge in February.
Mr Justice Barry White adjourned the case for mention later to allow gardaí more time to contact the victim concerning the compensation offer. A new sentence date will be set at the next hearing.
Det Sgt David Walsh told prosecuting counsel, Gerard Clarke SC (with Michael Delaney), that the woman had returned to Croatia following the trial and that recent attempts to contact her by phone had not been successful.
Mr Justice White said gardaí could try to contact her through the Croatian police with the help of Interpol.
The State had opposed the application for an adjournment of sentence, which was made by defence counsel, Hugh Hartnett SC (with Philipp Rhan).
There was no mention of a specific amount of compensation in court.
Keogh was found guilty by a jury of raping the 26-year-old woman, who claimed he told her he was a garda and that he also threatened to throw her out of the hotel window.