A MAN who attempted to have sex with his sister-in-law while she was asleep with her partner has had the balance of his sentence suspended by the Central Criminal Court.
The 33-year-old Dublin man, who was separated from his victim's sister, was originally jailed in October 1997 for 3 1/2 years by Mr Justice Flood, who set a review date for March 1999. He pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting the woman on October 2nd, 1994, while staying overnight in her flat after having had some drinks in a pub with her and her partner.
Mr Justice Flood suspended the balance of his sentence on condition that he abstain from drinking, attend a sex offenders' treatment course, abide by the directions of the Probation and Welfare Service and pay agreed compensation to the woman he attacked.
Det Sgt Gerry McDonald told the hearing in October 1997 that the woman and her boyfriend met the man in a pub and later allowed him to sleep on a couch.
The woman and her boyfriend went to the bedroom and had sexual intercourse. She then went asleep on her stomach but awoke a short time later on feeling the weight of someone having sex with her. She looked over to see her boyfriend still asleep in the bed beside her. Her brother-in-law got up off the bed and ran out of the room.
The defendant initially denied any wrongdoing but later admitted his guilt.