Man jailed for attempted rape

A man who was caught by gardai attempting to rape a young woman has been jailed for three years.

A man who was caught by gardai attempting to rape a young woman has been jailed for three years.

James Michael Devenney (38), single, of Ray, Manorcunningham, Co Donegal, pleaded guilty to attempted rape at Ballymurry Lower, Buncrana, early on July 4th, 1998.

Mr Justice Patrick Smith at the Central Criminal Court said Devenney was lucky the gardai were able to react promptly to a call from a concerned citizen, and arrest him before he committed a more serious offence.

He jailed Devenney for three years on the attempted rape charge and two terms of two years each for sexually assaulting and assaulting the woman on the same occasion. All the sentences are to run concurrently.