Latvian convicted of city rape takes High Court challenge
Galway Bay fm newsroom - A Latvian man, who was convicted of a rape in Galway city in 2004, has brought a High Court challenge against the decision to remove and exclude him from the State after he had served his prison sentence.
The action is being taken by 32 year old Deniss Kovalenko, who was convicted of raping an American student on Upper Canal Road on Valentine’s night 9 years ago.According to the Irish Times, Kovalenko, who had been living in the city, claims the decision by the Minister for Justice to remove and exclude him is unfair.In 2006, the Central Criminal Court heard Kovalenko met the woman in Shop Street at about 3am and bought her a rose from a street seller. He later raped her at Upper Canal Road.Mr Justice Barry White jailed him for seven years and directed Kovalenko be included on the sex offenders register.Leave to bring the action was granted on an ex-parte basis by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, who adjourned the matter to October.