Editorial: False sexual assault claim undermines pursuit of justice for actual victims

Justice takes time - and painstaking attention to detail. A case, which has reverberated across Waterford and beyond this week, was made possible because of diligent police work by An Garda Síochana in Dungarvan. It has seen justice served and full truth emerge. But at the beginning, when this particular 'crime' was alleged to have been committed, that was not evident to the public, who were dragged into a dangerous charade.

The lie at the heart of this case was one of the most despicable. A young Dungarvan woman falsely claimed that she had been sexually assaulted. The finger of blame was pointed at non-Irish males.

There was immediate anger and upset in Dungarvan, with the lie enflamed by social media and dangerous vigilante-style behaviour instigated - aimed at addressing what was perceived to be Garda inaction at tackling crime.

Meanwhile, the Garda investigation commenced immediately, and painstakingly they unravelled what had actually transpired - nothing. They had to put crucial and valuable resources into investigating and taking with utmost seriousness the claim that the woman had made. She said that, while walking home alone after a night out, she was approached by a number of males who dragged her up a laneway, forcibly took off her belt and pulled down her jeans. The woman claimed that the group fled when an unknown woman entered the scene. She was not able to describe this woman to Gardaí.

Last week, the whole sorry situation had its culmination in Waterford courthouse. The accused, who pleaded guilty to a single count of making a false complaint to Gardaí on February 19, 2023, was sentenced to 200 hours of community service.

After the woman's initial report was made that February, gardaí attended the scene of the alleged crime with the woman herself. They also then went to the home of the woman to gather clothing, along with messages from her phone.

A lengthy investigation into the alleged crime was conducted, but after looking through CCTV footage, gardaí noted inconsistencies.

In the meantime, the woman's sister posted on social media about the alleged crime. As a result of the post, a so-called "safety group" was set up in Dungarvan. Gardaí were accused of covering up the incident, when the exact opposite was the case - they were working hard to get to the root of it.

In all, five weeks of time and resources were wasted as a result of the false claim, which only served to fuel hatred and division in the west Waterford town.

It is tremendously difficult for a woman to step forward when an actual sexual assault has been committed against her. It is one of the most serious and heinous types of crime to be committed, and involves a huge level of bravery by the victim in presenting the level of vulnerability involved in pursuing justice. This incident undermines all those women who have fought for justice and who currently fight for justice. 

As we mark Nollaig na mBan - Women's Christmas - we remember those women and applaud their bravery.