Serial bottom slapper says he'll 'grab' second chance 'with both hands' after being spared jail

Paul Doyle (53) of Boolypatrick, Blarney in Co Cork, admitted three sexual offences when he appeared before Judge Olann Kelleher at Cork District Court last week.

The court heard Doyle, who lives with his elderly parents, had slapped two women and a 14-year-old girl on their bottoms in three separate incidents in Cork city centre over a number of months in early 2019.

He has since stayed off alcohol and read the victim impact statements made by the women, which has made him aware of the offence he caused and he wants to apologise to them for his actions.

Judge Olann Kelleher told Doyle at the court hearing: “These are very serious charges. They span a period of months. He has a problem with drink.

“I will put it back for a probation report. It is up to him to co-operate with the probation service.”

“If you don’t co-operate with the probation service, you will go to jail. And if you go back on drink, you put yourself hugely at risk of custody.

“Society has to be protected,” warned Judge Kelleher.

Emerging from his Cork home in pyjama bottoms and a t-shirt on Wednesday afternoon, Doyle told the Sunday World he was extremely sorry for his actions.

“I was hoping this would remain private,” he said.

“I am regretful – very regretful about what I done and that kind of thing.

“The judge is after giving me a chance and I’m going to grab it now with both hands.”

Outlining the background to the three cases at last week’s hearing, Sergeant John Kelleher told how the first offence had occurred on Sunday, December 16, 2018, at a shop in Cork city.

Sergeant Kelleher said Doyle had slapped a female shop assistant on the buttock area with his hand.

When arrested and questioned two months later, he admitted touching the woman on her bottom.

He pleaded guilty to a charge of intentionally engaging in offensive conduct of a sexual nature.

Less than a month later, on January 14, 2019, a female shop assistant at a city store complained to Garda Kyra Collins that she was slapped twice on the buttocks in a manner which she considered sexual in nature by a man who then left the store. Arising out of this incident Doyle also pleaded guilty to sexual assault.

Three months later, on April 18, 2019, a 14-year-old girl complained that a man slapped her on the buttocks on the street and that the man was intoxicated at the time.

Doyle pleaded guilty to a charge of sexual assault arising out of that.

Solicitor Frank Buttimer said the man was back living with his elderly parents and was off alcohol for the past two months.

There was a victim impact report from the teenager and one from one of the shop assistants.

“He has read each. He would not have had a grasp in any meaningful sense of how his conduct could impact on people who are innocent and going about their business. He now has a grasp on how offensive his conduct is.

“He would welcome the opportunity to write to the victims through gardai to express his remorse and understanding,” Mr Buttimer said.

The judge adjourned the case until December 2 at Cork District Court.