'I don't feel safe..I feel ashamed and dirty'

A BRAVE WOMAN who fended off an attacker with a hurley has told a court that she feels “physically sick and dirty” when thinking about the horrific attack.

- BY OLIVIA KELLEHER

The intruder who broke in to the home of a mother and teenage daughter before sexually and physically assaulting the older woman has now been jailed for six-and-a-half years.

Christopher Ryan with an address at Fernhill in Clonakilty in West Cork was on bail in relation to a rape charge when the offence occurred at a house in Co Cork in January 2025.

The 34-year-old, who is originally from Thurles in Co Tipperary, pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual assault of the woman, physical assault causing harm to her and her daughter, false imprisonment of them both and burglary at the property.

Det Garda Paul Cullen previously told the court that a neighbour raised the alarm shortly before 5am on January 12, 2025 when she heard the young girl shouting for help.