Woman claims sexual assault while she slept

A WOMAN told the Circuit Criminal Court, sitting in Castlebar today, she was sexually assaulted while asleep by a man who got into bed beside her.

The alleged victim told Judge Rory MacCabe and a jury that she was awakened from a deep sleep in an apartment at a west of Ireland hotel by a man who was molesting her.

She then said that as the beside locker light was turned on by her husband who had come into the room, her attacker (whom she named in court) got out of bed with his trousers down.

The woman said she then shouted at her attacker telling him: “Don't you lay a hand on me again. I never want to see you again.”

The accused has pleaded not guilty to a single charge of sexual assault.

He cannot be named for legal reasons.

The trial, which is being heard by a 12-person jury, eight men and four women, is expected to last a number of days.

In his opening address to the jury, Mr. Patrick Reynolds, counsel for the State (instructed by Mr. Vincent Deane, State Solicitor for Mayo, said the alleged victim was one of an eight strong group, which included her husband, who travelled to a west of Ireland town for a charity event in July 2015.

Mr. Reynolds alleged that after the victim went to bed in the double bed she was to later share with her husband, the accused, unknown to the others in the group, got in beside her while she was asleep.

The accused in the case is represented by Mr. Ken Fogarty, senior counsel, instructed by Mr. Brendan McDonagh, barrister, and Mr. Peter Loftus of Bourke Carrig and Loftus Solicitors, Ballina.

The trial is continuing.