DARIUSZ SWIDERSKI'S SHOCKING CRIME IN CARLOW: VICTIM'S NIGHTMARE IN KILKENNY AND BEYOND

In November 2020, a disturbing case of sexual assault involving Dariusz Swiderski, a man known to have connections to Carlow, came to light, revealing a harrowing incident that took place in Kilkenny. Swiderski, who was later convicted for his actions, had a history that drew significant public and legal attention due to the severity of his crime and the circumstances surrounding it.

The incident unfolded on the night of July 29, 2017, when a 19-year-old woman was socializing at a nightclub in Kilkenny city. After losing her friends, she decided to leave the venue around 3 a.m. and attempted to hail a taxi to return home. As she waited outside, a car pulled up, and believing it to be a legitimate taxi, she entered the vehicle, providing her intended address to the driver, who was later identified as Dariusz Swiderski.

Once inside, the young woman quickly fell asleep. Swiderski, instead of driving her directly home, drove around for a brief period before parking in a secluded area within a housing estate on the outskirts of Kilkenny. What followed was a prolonged and traumatic ordeal lasting over three and a half hours, during which Swiderski sexually assaulted her in various ways. The court heard that Swiderski admitted to kissing her legs and breasts, touching her breasts and vagina, and ultimately digitally penetrating her while she was unconscious. The victim awoke to find herself in a state of shock, with her top pulled up and her trousers around her knees.

Following the assault, the young woman managed to escape from the vehicle, fleeing into the estate and eventually onto the city ring road. A passer-by noticed her distress and called the Gardaí, who responded promptly. Garda James McGuill attended the scene and accompanied her to the sexual assault unit at Waterford University Hospital. Using CCTV footage, Garda McGuill identified the vehicle and its license plate, leading to the eventual arrest of Swiderski.

Swiderski was not at his residence when Gardaí arrived initially, but he was later apprehended at his workplace on July 31. During multiple interviews, he admitted to picking up the young woman, kissing her, and touching her but claimed that he believed the encounter was consensual because she never explicitly said she did not want it. Despite his claims, the victim was clear in her statement that she did not want any contact with him.

Swiderski pleaded guilty during the investigation but later sought to withdraw his plea, a request that was denied by the court. The victim, who was just finishing her second year of college and had started a summer job, provided a powerful victim impact statement. She described herself as bubbly, outgoing, and happy before the incident, but her life was forever changed afterward.

In her statement, she recounted her fear and trauma, including her feelings of being trapped and her belief that her life was ending during the assault. She expressed feelings of disgust and being used, and detailed her struggles with trust, depression, and the breakdown of her relationship with her boyfriend. The incident cast a dark shadow over her college life, and she admitted to feeling damaged and hopeless at times, questioning her future.

The court proceedings highlighted the profound impact of Swiderski’s actions on the young woman’s life, emphasizing the importance of justice and support for victims of sexual violence. Swiderski, who expressed remorse and stated his intention to live a normal life, remains a figure of concern given the severity of his crime and the ongoing repercussions for the victim and her family.