A man who was caught by gardai while raping a woman has been jailed for five years by the Central Criminal Court.
Peter Dinnegan (28), of St Joseph's Cottages, Mullingar, pleaded guilty to raping the woman in the early hours of July 25th, 1997 at Mill Road in the town.
The victim told gardai that while she was on the ground being raped she had felt around for a large stone or rock to hit her assailant. They had not met before that night.
Dinnegan told his victim in court: "I am deeply sorry from the bottom of my heart for the hurt I have caused you." He blamed alcohol for his action and said he had not drunk since that night.
Mr Justice Carney noted that the 23-year-old victim had feared she might not survive her ordeal and was now permanently psychologically scarred as a result. He accepted that Dinnegan's remorse was genuine and suspended the final six months of the five years due to his early guilty plea.
Sgt Gerard Folan told Mr Gerard Clarke SC, prosecuting, that the victim and Dinnegan had met in a fast-food shop and eaten burgers together. When she was walking home she noticed Dinnegan was following her and tried to run off, but he caught her.
People living in the area heard her screams for help and alerted gardai.