A Brazilian man who sexually assaulted his sleeping flatmate in their shared Dublin home has been sentenced to three years in prison.
Lucas Da Silva Cruz (30), currently residing on Richmond Road, Fairview, Dublin 3, was living with the victim and 11 other Brazilian nationals in a crowded three-bedroom house at the time of the assault. The court heard that the house accommodated 13 people, with men and women sharing rooms and sleeping in bunk beds.
Da Silva Cruz was found guilty of sexually assaulting the woman on July 4, 2019, following a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in January. The prosecution confirmed there was no objection to naming the defendant, though the victim requested anonymity.
Sentencing Da Silva Cruz, Judge Orla Crowe described the assault as a “breach of trust” against a vulnerable woman who was asleep in her own home, a place where she should have felt safe. The judge emphasized the lasting impact of the crime, noting that the victim continues to suffer from anxiety, sleepless nights, and recurrent nightmares.
The court heard that the victim, then 23, had moved into the house but was uncomfortable with the living arrangements, often choosing to sleep on the sofa. On the night of the assault, after a barbecue with housemates, the woman informed the group via WhatsApp that she would be sleeping on the couch. She awoke around 4 a.m. to find Da Silva Cruz performing oral sex on her. After kicking him away, she retreated to her bedroom and confided in a flatmate the next morning.
In a victim impact statement, the woman described how the assault has left her feeling angry, sad, and vulnerable. She expressed gratitude for the support of her partner and the justice system in Ireland, stating, “After the jury saw the truth in me, Ireland, already my home, became my refuge.”
Judge Crowe acknowledged that Da Silva Cruz, a non-national with no prior convictions, had expressed remorse and cooperated with authorities. However, she highlighted the severity of the crime, particularly the defendant’s attempt to pull down the victim’s trousers again after she had resisted.
Da Silva Cruz, who worked in IT, resigned from his job after being convicted, causing financial strain as he had been supporting his elderly mother in Sao Paulo. The judge set a headline sentence of four years but reduced it to three, backdated to January 17, and ordered his placement on the sex offenders register.
Detective Garda PJ Gallagher noted that alcohol was not a factor in the case, and the victim had been drinking coke that evening. Da Silva Cruz initially claimed the act was consensual but later accepted the jury’s verdict and submitted a letter of apology to the court.
The case underscores the profound impact of sexual violence and the importance of holding perpetrators accountable, regardless of their nationality or background.
