HARVEY SIMUKONDA AND JESSE EDOKPAYI SENTENCED FOR SHOCKING SEXUAL ASSAULT IN ATHLONE AND DUBLIN

In September 2014, a disturbing case of sexual assault involving two young men from Dublin and Athlone captured public attention and led to significant legal consequences. The incident centered around a 15-year-old girl who was a Junior Cert student at the time, and the details revealed during the court proceedings painted a grim picture of exploitation and abuse.

According to court reports, the two defendants, 19-year-olds Harvey Simukonda, originally from Malawi but residing in Athlone, and Jesse Edokpayi from Dublin, were found guilty of heinous acts committed against the teenage girl. The court heard that both men had engaged in a series of predatory actions that culminated in a sexual assault while the girl was in a highly vulnerable state.

The case was brought to light through testimonies and evidence presented in Galway Circuit Court. Sergeant Paudie O’Shea recounted that the girl first encountered Simukonda during the Volvo Ocean Race festivities held in Galway in 2012. The court learned that three weeks after their initial meeting, on August 1, 2012, during the Galway Races, the girl, accompanied by a friend, was persuaded to visit an apartment with Simukonda. There, she was served vodka and became intoxicated, which was a critical factor in the subsequent events.

It was revealed that Simukonda took the girl to a toilet where they engaged in sexual activity twice. The court described how her trousers had been forcibly ripped and her zipper damaged during the assault. Later that evening, she was taken to a bedroom where Edokpayi sexually assaulted her, an act that was recorded on a mobile phone. The footage shown in court depicted the girl lying almost in a coma on the floor, with her arms wrapped around herself, as Edokpayi attempted to coerce her into further sexual acts. He admitted to digitally penetrating her during this assault.

The court also heard that during the recording, three men, including the two defendants, were present in the room. The victim was not able to attend the proceedings due to illness, but her mother was present and provided a victim impact statement. She expressed her anguish, stating, “I’m suffering from depression and have been suicidal. I have suffered loss of self-esteem and have low self-respect. People found out in school and were making comments about me and I felt humiliated in school. I felt very isolated at the time.”

Both Simukonda and Edokpayi offered apologies to the victim and her family during the court proceedings. Justice Barry White sentenced each man to three years in prison, with the final 18 months of each sentence suspended. Additionally, their names were added to the sexual offenders register, marking a significant legal consequence for their actions and serving as a warning against such predatory behavior in the community.