Sentencing for sexual assault at Salthill beach deferred

Galway Bay fm newsroom – A 32-year-old man, who sexually assaulted a Spanish woman on a secluded beach in Salthill, has been remanded in custody to await psychological assessment. In May, Tommy Hughes, from Corbally, Cummer, Tuam, appeared before Galway Circuit Criminal Court. At that court he pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting the 26-year-old woman at Illifanamona Island – a scenic stretch of shoreline between Blackrock diving tower in Salthill, and the nearby caravan park at Silver Strand – on Sunday, October 13th, 2013. The court heard the young woman was sitting alone on the scenic but secluded beach at around 4.30p.m. when Hughes grabbed her from behind and simulated sex with her through her clothing. He had pulled his t-shirt up over his face. The woman bravely fought off her attacker, biting him on his hand, arm and lower chest Garda Mark Cunniffe described the incident as “a serious, violent and sustained assault”. She was knocked to the ground as she successfully kept her tracksuit bottoms in place while the accused tried to pull them down on several occasions. Hughes eventually ran off but later handed himself into Galway Garda Station in the city where he claimed he had tried to rob a woman earlier. The woman, who has been living and working in Ireland for five years, read her own very detailed and emotive victim impact statement to the court. She said she could no longer work full-time in her job and she would always be afraid of men and would never be able to trust one again. Defence barrister, Brendan Browne said his client had a history of depression and was not welcome at home due to his abuse of alcohol. Judge Rory McCabe said it warranted a 8-year sentence before mitigating or aggravating factors were considered. He remanded Hughes in custody until October 9th for the preparation of the relevant reports.