Man jailed for rape and attempted strangulation of wife

This article contains references to rape and sexual assault. Reader discretion is advised.

By Isabel Hayes

A man who raped his partner when she was sleeping and was caught by gardaí in the act of trying to strangle her has been jailed for 10 years.

Patrick Ward (36), of no fixed abode in Dublin 1, regularly self-harmed and made suicide attempts in front of the woman in an attempt to control her, the Central Criminal Court heard.

Patricia McLaughlin SC, prosecuting, indicated to the court that the woman wishes for Ward to be named in reporting the case but does not want to be named herself. Counsel said the woman is confident naming him will not identify her.

Ward pleaded guilty to one count of raping her in her apartment on a date between April 28, and May 4, 2024. Ms McLaughlin told the court this plea was acceptable to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on a full facts basis.

Ward has 98 previous convictions, including for sexually assaulting a woman and a teenage girl while they were sleeping in two separate incidents.

The court heard that Ward and the woman (41) met in 2023 and he moved into her apartment shortly afterwards. The court heard the man was a registered sex offender and failed to notify gardaí about his change of address. He had recently been released from a lengthy prison sentence for one of the sexual assault matters.

The court heard that on May 21, 2024, gardaí responded to a 999 call for help. They arrived at the apartment and find Ward on top of the woman, strangling her. He was arrested at the scene.

The woman had walked into a city centre garda station earlier that day to state she was in fear of Ward, but she was put out of the station for smoking. When she returned home to her apartment, Ward started attacking her, and she managed to call 999.

When the woman made a statement to gardaí following the man’s arrest, she outlined a history of abuse, including that Ward would regularly threaten suicide and self-harm himself in front of her. She also outlined an incident of rape that had occurred a few weeks prior.

In relation to this incident, the court heard that she became aware that Ward had raped her when she was sleeping after she found a video recording of it on his phone. She forwarded it to herself before he deleted it.

The court heard that in the sexual assault case involving the teenage girl, Ward broke into her property and she awoke to him assaulting her. The sexual assault involving the woman occurred while she was sleeping beside her small child. Ward also has previous convictions for harassment of a former partner, theft, criminal damage, burglary and public order offences.

In a victim impact statement which she read out in court, the woman said she struggles with anxiety and night terrors and that she lost her apartment and her job as a result of the trauma inflicted on her.

“Every day is a struggle as I try to understand – how could your boyfriend that you trusted at the time, rape you while you’re asleep?” she said. “Two weeks later, he strangled me. I thought I was going to die. I don’t think this is something I will ever get to understand.”

She said she feels humiliated and disgusted by his actions and that the images she saw when he self-harmed in front of her will never leave her.

Under questioning from defence counsel, Daniel O’Connell BL, the woman said she was unaware of the extent of the Ward’s criminal history. “If I knew that he was doing that to women when they were asleep, I would not have felt comfortable,” she said.

The garda agreed with defence counsel that the couple had a turbulent relationship with substance abuse issues.

She acknowledged that his client had a difficult upbringing and that he has suffered with his mental health for many years having first suffered with depression at the age of 17.

In his plea of mitigation to the court, Michael Lynn SC, defending, asked the court to consider that his client is “on the cusp now” and at a juncture in his life where he has demonstrated a change in mindset and a desire to rehabilitate. Counsel said this was evident by Ward’s plea of guilt and remorse which his psychologist is confident is credible.

“He realises now that he needs to change his lifestyle completely to change his life,” Mr Lynn submitted adding that Ward is on enhanced status in the prison.

Sentencing Ward, Ms Justice Greally said the rape was committed for Ward’s sexual gratification and that he strangled the woman out of anger and to impose control over her.

She said the offence warranted a headline sentence of 16 years taking into account the “immense breach of trust involved” and the fact that offences occurred in the woman’s home.

Ms Justice Greally also noted from the victim impact statement the detrimental consequences for the woman, including the loss of her home and occupation.

The judge noted that the woman felt “humiliated, exposed and degraded” and that she felt she was going to die when Ward was strangling her. Her mental health has deteriorated as a result.

Ms Justice Greally acknowledged that Ward grew up in a difficult environment where abuse of alcohol was the norm. She acknowledged that he has since demonstrated remorse and has accepted responsibility but she noted that reports before the court indicated that Ward has “limited insight into intimate partner violence and the impact of it”.

Ms Justice Greally reduced the headline sentence to 11 and half years taking into account the mitigating features of the case including Ward’s plea of guilty, admissions, the remorse which the judge said he has expressed in multiple ways and a positive report from the governor of the prison.

The judge suspended the final 18 months of the sentence on strict conditions including that Ward engage with the Probation Service for 18 months and undergo any courses as recommended by them.

She also ordered him not to have any contact either directly or indirectly with the woman or members of her family for the next 40 years.