A man sexually assaulted a woman on a public street following a night out, a court has heard. On hearing shouts on the street, several people came to the victim’s aid, while Mercado was restrained by some passersby. In an impact statement, read to the court on behalf of the woman, Mercado’s victim said she felt “extremely vulnerable and frightened” after the attack, and felt compelled to bring a case to the courts to “protect” other women. When gardaí initially began investigating the case, officers learned that Mercado had left Ireland to live in Australia. Mr Rahn asked the court to consider Mercado’s early guilty plea, his remorse and dedication to his family ahead of sentencing.

Source: The Irish Times June 10, 2021 15:32 UTC