A Liberian national who had sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old deaf girl in a Dublin flat has been jailed for 30 months by Mr Justice Carney at the Central Criminal Court. Philip Donker (33), with an address at Queen Street, Dublin, pleaded guilty to having unlawful carnal knowledge of the girl in 1999.
Ms Miriam Reynolds SC, prosecuting, said that the girl, who had been reported missing, was found walking near the Four Courts by a former teacher, who brought her to Pearse Street Garda station. The girl revealed that she had been staying with Donker and had had sexual intercourse with him.
Mr Peter Finlay SC, defending, said that Donker had not detained the girl. A number of people who visited the flat saw her there and she had made no attempt to leave.
Det Insp Tim Mulvey said that the girl met Donker near the Statoil service station on Usher's Quay and went with him to a flat he shared with two other foreign nationals. She claimed at first that she had been bundled into a car, but investigations had disproved her claim.
Mr Justice Carney noted the victim impact report, which indicated that the girl had not suffered from her experience. He did not necessarily believe that the author was qualified to state that, but it was the evidence before him. He also took into account that Donker had not used any violence. He knew that the girl was against having sexual intercourse, but he led her into it by persuasion.