Predator Joseph McArdle was pictured shortly after jumping on a woman running by the River Boyne in a broad daylight attack that she feared would claim her life.
cArdle, 32, of Grangebellew, Co Louth, who was in a state of sexual arousal when he pressed the woman to the floor and put his hand over her mouth, she screamed for help, was jailed this week for four years after he found guilty pleaded false imprisonment.
The woman thought she would die during her ordeal and said that given what happened in Tullamore earlier this year, she had been very lucky with Ashling Murphy. She added that she is now afraid to run alone.
Moments after the attack, a photo was taken by a man who chased McArdle after the attack and held him until Gardaí arrived.
McArdle pleaded guilty to the woman’s false imprisonment on July 26, 2020 in Oldbridge, Co. Meath.
At Trim Circuit Court, his week’s judge Martina Baxter said it was “clearly a terrifying and traumatizing” order for the victim.
Judge Baxter sentenced McArdle to five and a half years with the last eighteen months probation.
Evidence in the case was heard earlier this year and then adjourned for sentencing.
Garda John Spain told prosecutor Carl Hanahoe BL at the earlier hearing that the woman saw the defendant in front of her on the promenade between Drogheda and Oldbridge that Sunday morning and immediately felt uneasy about his behavior.
She tried to accelerate past him, but McArdle grabbed her and threw her to the ground before sitting on top of her.
The Gardaí woman said she thought he would strangle or stab her or throw her into the Boyne River and when she started screaming, he put his hand over her mouth.
She said she stopped wrestling and managed to reason with him and when he released his grip and got off her she ran for help and encountered two other runners while a third caught up with her attacker as he ran away and held him on the spot until Gardaí arrived.
McArdle first gave Gardaí a false name, but was recognized by Garda Antoinette Power at Drogheda Garda station.
McArdle initially said he had become angry when his victim refused to give him a cigarette, adding: “I assaulted that woman”.
He claimed he had been up and drinking all night prior to the incident, adding that he had tried to kiss the woman and held her until he rested himself.
He said he was sexually aroused at the time and that asking for a cigarette had only been an excuse to grab her.
The woman in her victim statement said she thought she would die in the attack and has since had recurring nightmares and flashbacks, and was plagued with thoughts of what could have happened.
The woman, who is a marathon runner, said she was now afraid to run alone.
She thanked those who helped her that day and added that considering what had happened to Ashling Murphy, she was very lucky.
Judge Martina Baxter praised the woman for her courage and described her as an “amazing role model” and sent the defendant back on bail for punishment.
Defense attorney Donough McDonough BL told the resumed hearing that his client, who had a longstanding problem with alcohol and cannabis abuse, had written a letter of apology to the victim.
The judge said it was “clearly a frightening and traumatizing” order for the victim.
Defense attorney Donough McDonough said his client suffered from a lifelong communication disorder as well as alcohol and cannabis abuse.
Since the incident, McArdle, who was homeless at the time of the attack, had written a letter of apology to the victim.
In the letter, he said he was “so sorry” for his behavior, adding that the incident had “opened his eyes to what booze and drugs” could do to him.
Judge Baxter said it had been “clearly a terrifying and traumatizing” ordeal for the victim, who had been “a very brave woman that day and very brave to come to court”.
The judge noted the contents of a medical report outlining the defendant’s addiction and other problems, as well as a probation report denying the assault was sexually motivated.
Judge Baxter noted that this claim contradicted McArdle’s previous admission to Gardaí.
The judge described the fact that McArdle put his hand over the victim’s mouth as “threatening” and she also expressed concern that he had given a false name.
Judge Baxter sentenced McArdle to five and a half years with the last eighteen months on probation on the condition that he remain under probation supervision for eighteen months after his release.