A prisoner with hundreds of previous convictions has claimed he was the victim of a sex attack behind bars.
William McCarthy, (29), told a judge via video link at Letterkenny District Court yesterday that he needed to be freed to receive counselling after the incident.
McCarthy, who has 352 previous convictions faced further charges of driving a car in Co Donegal last year whilst disqualified. He was living in Carndonagh at the time.
He was also charged with providing a false name to gardai when they stopped a car he was driving near Buncrana.
Inspector David Kelly said when McCarthy was stopped on June 28, 2012, he gave gardai a fake name.
Judge Kelly was told that the previous offences related to stealing cars, burglary and various motoring offences.
McCarthy then told Judge Kelly via video link: “I’m sorry.
“I would ask you not to jail me again. I was sexually assaulted at Cloverhill prison last year by two Travellers.
“I should not have been put in prison with sex offenders and I was.
“I’ve spoken to the Gardai and they cannot find them now and I am not dropping the charges.”
McCarthy, who had been due for release in eight days’ time, asked to be released from jail to attend counselling.
Judge Kelly asked what McCarthy was doing in Donegal at the time of the offences.
McCarthy said he had been living in Carndonagh at the time and had been there for three months.
Judge Kelly said the previous offences were the most that he had seen during his time on the bench.
He sentenced McCarthy, who was due for release on July 23, to a further three months in prison.