A Galway man who violently sexually assaulted a nurse in a laneway, causing her severe head injuries, has received a 10-year prison sentence.
Brian Maher (25), Clostoken, Loughrea, Co Galway, had pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual assault and assault causing harm to the woman, in Bohermore, Galway city, on October 16th, 2010.
Passing sentence at the Central Criminal Court, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy described the crime as an “opportunistic” and “out of the blue” attack that involved a “great deal of gratuitous violence”.
Mr Justice McCarthy backdated a sentence of 10 years to October 17th, 2010, as Maher has been in custody since then.
He suspended the last three years of this sentence on the condition that Maher keep the peace and not communicate or approach the victim for three years.