Convicted Cork rapist to be sentenced Friday
A convicted Cork double-rapist will be sentenced on Friday for orally raping a foreign national in the city last year.
David Hegarty (aged 32) was jailed on March 4, 2000 for 10 years for raping two female students in Cork city centre in October 1998.
Hegarty, a father of one, with a former address at Nutley Rd, Mahon had been released from prison two years before he raped the foreign national in the early hours of the morning of May 22, 2008.
He was caught near the scene by Garda Aidan O'Mahony after a member of the public telephoned gardaí and remained on the line while keeping Hegarty in view until a patrol car arrived. He pleaded guilty to the crime.
The victim told Mr Justice Paul Carney at the Central Criminal Court: "I will never forgive him for what he did and I will never forget it."
She said that Hegarty's attack on her had "totally changed my lifestyle" and left her afraid to walk anywhere on her own. She had become suspicious of men and didn't feel safe on her own anymore.
The woman said she also suffered sleepless nights, needing indication to help her sleep at all and she was still having regular counselling.
Hegarty said in evidence that he wished to apologise to her and say he was sorry. He said he would "wholeheartedly co-operate" with any treatment he might be offered in prison.
Detective Garda John McDonagh told Ms Karen O'Connor BL, prosecuting, that the victim was waiting for a bus in the early hours of the morning when Hegarty grabbed her around the neck and dragged her to a lane and assaulted her.
She screamed and he threatened to kill her unless she stopped.
Det Gda McDonagh said the victim tried to get the attention of a member of the public in a vehicle.
Gardaí received a phone call from a man who kept Hegarty in view all the time and when a patrol car arrived he tried to escape but was detained by Gda O'Mahony.
Hegarty was very drunk at the time and later made some admissions, saying he was sorry he had hurt her.
Mr Justice Carney said: "He has committed three rapes and that his raises inference in my mind that he will do so again at the first possible opportunity and that the appropriate sentence is one of life imprisonment."
He noted he had imposed a life sentence in a such a case but a judgement by the Court of Criminal Appeal had said he could not impose a life sentence.
Mr Justice Carney said he would hear submissions on this issue on Friday and remanded Hegarty in custody.
