A US national who gave two girls an "alco pop" drink before sexually assaulting them in his Dublin home has been remanded in continuing custody to April 16th.
His Irish born wife, who was pregnant at the time of the incident, told the Central Criminal, Court that she appreciated the seriousness of the offences but hoped to keep their marriage together. She said she was attending counselling and had brought her young child on visits to the defendant in Arbour Hill prison.
In February, the 29 year old man pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting the now 13 year old girls on two occasions each on June 28th, 1996. Adjourning sentence for a week, Mr Justice Flood said he wanted to consider all the factors.
Det Sgt Gabriel O'Gara agreed with Mr Maurice Gaffney SC, prosecuting, that the defendant knew the girls who were friends of his wife's younger sister. The Woody's drink he gave them contained 4.7 per cent alcohol.
Mr Gaffney said the man brought the girls to his house to try on clothes at 2 p.m. He gave them the drink and told them to relax when they felt the effects of the alcohol. The assaults then took place.
Shortly after 4.30 p.m. the girls, who were very distressed, raised the alarm and the gardai were called. Later that day, the man rang the gardai to say he would surrender after consulting his solicitor.
He was charged with eight offences, including counts of rape and unlawful carnal knowledge of one girl. At his trial in February, the prosecution accepted guilty pleas to the sexual assaults.
Mr Michael McDowell SC, defending, said his client wanted to acknowledge his remorse publicly and to apologise for his "undoubtedly predatory" sexual behaviour.