A MAN who slit his wrist after sexually assaulting a 14 year old male babysitter has been given a three year suspended sentence by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Judge Kieran O'Connor also ordered the man to pay the youth £2,000 compensation and to carry out 150 hours of community service.
The man (26) pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting the teenager on April 24th, 1994. He had no previous convictions.
A detective told Mr Hugh Hartnett, prosecuting, that the boy looked after the defendant's infant child while he and his girlfriend went out. The man returned alone, drunk and with his face bloody from a fall. He went to bed without sending the boy home.
The victim wanted to go home and went upstairs to wake the man. He was then sexually assaulted.
Afterwards the victim went to a nearby house, and his parents were called. They then contacted gardai.
The man told the gardai he had drunk about 10 pints during the day. He agreed to go to the Garda station with them. When he went to his bedroom to dress he slit his wrist with a knife.
Four days later after hospital treatment he called to the gardai by appointment.
Mr Anthony Sammon, defending, said his client abjectly apologised to the victim and his parents for his action. The evidence showed there was no premeditation.