BRAY WOMAN YAN YUET CHING SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT AT DUBLIN CINEMA

In December 2012, a disturbing case of sexual assault involving a woman from Bray, Co Wicklow, captured public attention and resulted in a significant legal outcome. YAN Yuet Ching, a 42-year-old woman originally from China, was convicted of sexually abusing two 12-year-old girls inside a Dublin cinema and was subsequently sentenced to three months in prison.

Ching, who was visiting Ireland as a holidaymaker, was alone at the screening of a horror film when she approached the young girls under the guise of a casual request. She asked them to show her to her seat at the back of the cinema, a move that was later described in court as a deliberate ruse to facilitate her assault. Once at the back, the woman engaged in inappropriate behavior, making comments about the girls' appearance, touching their legs without consent, and taking photographs of them against their wishes. Court proceedings revealed that during the incident, Ching was also holding her own genitals, an act that underscored her intent and misconduct.

Ching’s residence was listed as Killery Terrace, Upper Dargle Road, Bray, and she denied all charges brought against her. Her defense argued that cultural differences might have played a role in her actions, suggesting that the victims, who appeared distressed, might have misunderstood her intentions. The court, however, found her guilty of sexual assault, and she was sentenced to three months in prison. Additionally, Judge Anthony Halpin ordered her to be registered as a sex offender for a period of seven years.

The incident took place at the IMC cinema located in The Square, Tallaght, on October 9. The case was tried in Dublin District Court without a jury, with evidence presented through pre-recorded DVD testimonies from both victims, followed by cross-examination via video link. The first girl testified that she and her friend had initially gone to see the film 'Taken 2' but ended up watching a different movie, 'The House At The End Of The Street,' which they were not supposed to see. She described how Ching was already seated when they entered and how she asked them to show her to her seat. The girl recounted that Ching expressed her liking for horror movies and began to behave inappropriately, touching her knee and then her friend's leg.

The second girl described how Ching complimented them, saying they were 'beautiful' and that their mothers should be proud. She asked to take their pictures, which made her feel very uncomfortable, especially when Ching proceeded to do so despite her objections. The second girl also testified that Ching was holding her own private parts outside her clothes while taking photographs, an act that left her feeling violated, upset, scared, and deeply uncomfortable. The court’s proceedings highlighted the severity of the misconduct and the impact on the young victims, leading to the conviction and sentencing of YAN Yuet Ching for her actions.