My life has changed since sex assault on Luas..I feel disgusted & violated

Devastated woman recalls trauma of sickening broad daylight attack

- BY TOM TUITE

Security guard Abdiweli Ali, 24, was jailed for eight months for the broad daylight sexual assault on June 10 last year on the Luas tram.

“MY LIFE has changed completely since that day. I feel disgusted and utterly violated,” the words of a woman traumatised after a man stood behind her on a crowded tram and soiled her dress with his semen.

Dublin District Court heard it happened as the woman and her friend travelled to the 3Arena for a Smashing Pumpkins concert.

Describing it as an “appalling offence”, Judge Grainne Malone stated she had to ensure women could travel safely on public transport without being violated in this way, and there had to be a deterrent.

Ali, from Somalia, came to Ireland in 2020, claiming that he fled from terrorist groups.

He denied the allegation for a year and changed his plea shortly before his trial was due to start.

Garda Colm Maguire played CCTV footage and described how Ali and the victim, in her late 20s, boarded the tram at the Bus Aras Luas stop at 7.20pm.

It was jam-packed, and Ali stood behind her for the eightminute trip.