Addict jailed for sex assault, burglary and robbery
A crack cocaine addict who ambushed a foreign national on the street and sexually assaulted her after telling her she should not be in the country has been given a three-year sentence.
Joseph Doyle (aged 29), of Kippure Park, Finglas, also stole equipment from a children’s hospital and robbed a couple as they walked home from a night out in the months after the attack.
Doyle pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to sexual assault at Mark’s Alley West near Francis Street on May 30, 2008; to robbery on Manor Street on September 2, 2008; and to burglary of the X-ray department in Temple Street Children's Hospital on August 27, 2008.
Judge Katherine Delahunt noted that a residential drug treatment course had been made available to Doyle but although it had not been successful, Fr Peter McVerry was still willing to keep in touch with him.
Judge Delahunt imposed concurrent sentences totalling three years and ordered Doyle’s name be placed on the sex offenders register.
Garda Karen Jordan told Ms Caroline Cummings BL, prosecuting, that a woman was walking home at night when she saw Doyle and another man walking towards her. As they passed, one kept walking while Doyle turned around, touched her bottom and said she was beautiful.
She responded that she just wanted to go home but he grabbed her tightly and pushed her against the wall as she searched in her handbag for a weapon to defend herself with.
He demanded oral sex and a kiss and punched her repeatedly in the head when she refused. She managed to push him back and scream for help but he started hitting her harder.
On hearing the screams a man came to the balcony of his apartment and started shouting at Doyle causing him to flee. He was arrested shortly afterwards but initially denied the incident.
In a later interview he admitted he gave the woman “a slap” and “did things I shouldn’t have.” He said he was “mad on drink and drugs” and had been taking cocaine.
Garda Darren Whelan gave evidence that three months later a woman was walking home from a night out with her boyfriend when a car sped past and nearly hit them. Her boyfriend shouted after the driver, calling him a moron.
The car stopped and Doyle and another man got out saying, “who are you calling a moron?” Doyle punched the man in the side of the head while his accomplice hit the girl and grabbed her hair.
He dragged her along by the hair until she released her handbag which the pair took and fled. Doyle was quickly arrested and admitting taking her bag but claimed her boyfriend had thrown something at the car. The bag and its contents were valued at €720.
Garda Elaine O’Malley told the court that a month later a doctor in Temple Street Children’s Hospital reported a camera and her palm pilot missing from her office in the X-ray department.
Gda O’Malley said after Doyle was identified as the culprit on CCTV he was arrested and admitted the burglary.
Ms Elva Duffy BL, defending, submitted that her client was a crack cocaine addict and had apologised to all his victims after making full admissions. She said he had been using his time in custody well where he is attending educational courses and hopes to do his junior certificate.
