Tipperary man jailed for kidnapping and sexually assaulting woman

“Dangerous sexual predator” Denis O’Donovan was jailed for seven years with the final six months suspended after being convicted of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a woman.

O’Donovan, (38), a father of one, from Ballyryan, Donohill, Co Tipperary, had pleaded not guilty to five criminal offences at his trial last April.

However, a jury found him guilty of four offences, including one count of false imprisonment, two counts of sexual assault, and one count of assault causing harm. The jury failed to reach a verdict on one alleged sexual assault.

Limerick Circuit Criminal Court heard O’Donovan drove to the woman’s house, situated in an isolated rural area of Co Limerick, on the night of January 17th 2020, and knocked on the front door of her property.

When the woman opened the door, there was nobody there, but when she went to investigate the presence of a car with its engine running and its headlights on in the front yard, O’Donovan “pulled” her into the…