A 63-yr-old individual has been sentenced to three years in prison for sexually assaulting a teenager in a laneway in Dublin, reports Breaking News.
Ronaldo Otto, also known as Samantha Otto, residing at Grosvenor Square, Rathmines, was convicted by a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury in May for the sexual assault of an 18-yr-old on October 26th, 2022.
Oisin Clarke BL, prosecuting, noted that the victim wished to remain anonymous but had no objection to the defendant’s identity being disclosed, reports Breaking News.
In his victim impact statement read to the court, the victim explained that he had recently graduated from secondary school and was 18 at the time of the incident.
“I was forever changed after that”, he said. “I’m 21. I won’t get to be 18 again… and time waits for no one. I’ll never get that time back,” he added, reports Breaking News.
He expressed hope that he could “get closure and move on with my life” and expressed gratitude to the gardaí for supporting him through a “gruelling” trial.
Garda Liam O’Meara informed the court that he was stationed at Rathmines Garda Station when the teenager reported being sexually assaulted.
The victim recounted that he was walking through a laneway, listening to music through headphones, when two women passed him, reports Breaking News.
One of the women paused at the lane’s entrance and gestured toward him. Uncertain if he was being summoned due to his headphones, he approached.
The victim stated that Otto immediately “cupped his penis” over his clothing. He requested Otto to step back. After moving away, Otto propositioned him for oral sex, which he refused. The victim then used his phone to record part of the encounter.
Another attempt to touch him followed, and he again told Otto to leave, the court was told. The victim said he was in shock. He contacted his father, who was unavailable, but his mother accompanied him to the garda station, reports Breaking News.
CCTV
Using CCTV footage from the laneway, gardaí identified Otto, and a warrant was issued. Otto was arrested, detained, and interviewed twice. Otto claimed the victim was the assailant and opted for a trial.
The court learned Otto had a prior conviction for assault causing harm on April 27th, 2019, receiving a suspended sentence on October 20th, 2020. In that incident, Otto threw boiling water on someone who rejected their advances, reports Breaking News.
It was noted that Otto, biologically male, is transitioning to female. Judge Codd inquired if the transition was complete, and Gda O’Meara confirmed it was “not complete”.
Pieter LeVert BL, defending, stated that Otto fully accepted the jury’s verdict. He described Otto as a 63-year-old from the Philippines who left school early to work, reports Breaking News.
He explained that Otto had owned a salon in the Philippines and moved to Ireland in 2011 to work in a salon run by another Filipino woman.
Counsel noted that Otto’s vocal cord issues left them without a voice. After ceasing work due to this and facing “severe financial difficulties”, Otto resorted to “working on the streets”. Mr. LeVert added that Otto had been robbed and attempted suicide, reports Breaking News.
Documents
A document from Ruhama, an NGO supporting sex workers, which Otto first contacted in March 2014, was submitted to the court.
Additional documents regarding Otto’s participation in adult education and a hairdressing course were also provided, reports Breaking News.
Counsel noted Otto is biologically male and has been transitioning “for a number of years”, having undergone breast augmentation and using a hormonal patch three times weekly. Otto’s diabetes requires “great caution” in the process.
Letters from the National Gender Service, offering psychological support, were submitted, reports Breaking News.
Mr. LeVert presented two articles by journalist Conor Gallagher, dated February 10th, 2025, and May 30th, 2025, highlighting the lack of a formal policy for transgender prisoners and their housing. The articles noted that such individuals are typically held in Limerick Prison’s E wing, confined for up to 23 hours daily.
“What weight has this evidence? It’s a newspaper article?” remarked Judge Pauline Codd, reports Breaking News.
Mr. LeVert urged the court to consider the challenges faced by transgender prisoners, Otto’s status as a foreign national without family in Ireland, and their acceptance of the jury’s verdict.
Judge Codd asked about Otto’s English proficiency, and counsel noted an interpreter was used during the trial, though not for the sentencing hearing, reports Breaking News.
Judge Codd observed that Otto, aged 58 at the time of the offense, identifies as female but remains biologically male, complicating sentencing as Otto lacks a gender recognition certificate.
The judge noted the victim perceived Otto as a woman and approached after Otto requested assistance. She highlighted that Otto claimed to be the victim and fully contested the case, describing Otto’s attempt to tarnish the victim’s character as unnecessary and egregious, reports Breaking News.
The judge acknowledged the victim’s poignant account of the assault’s impact, stating he should be enjoying time with friends but “feels like his life is being held up”.
Judge Codd remarked that the victim found the court process distressing. While the assault, occurring over clothing, was less severe, it could still cause psychological harm, she said.
The need for deterrence was raised, with the judge referencing Otto’s prior conviction for assault causing harm involving boiling water after rejected advances, reports Breaking News.
In mitigation, Judge Codd recognized Otto’s challenging upbringing, supported by evidence from Ruhama.
However, she emphasized that victims feel “rightly outraged by being violated” in such cases. She noted the absence of a guilty plea, which forced the victim to endure the trauma of testifying, reports Breaking News.
Judge Codd described Otto’s actions as a “gross violation of his bodily integrity”, despite no violence being used.
The assault was worsened by the “lewd language” used and the significant age difference between Otto and the victim.
The court was informed that Otto expressed no remorse but accepted the jury’s verdict, reports Breaking News.
While the prior assault conviction differed, it also stemmed from rejected advances, the judge observed.
Judge Codd stated that Otto is now on the Sexual Offenders’ Register and noted a letter from Ruhama indicating “where they received personal support,” reports Breaking News.
She acknowledged the difficulties Otto faces as a transitioning individual “where their gender identity does not align with their biological sex.”
Noting Otto was on a suspended sentence during the offense, Judge Codd imposed a three-year prison term, reports Breaking News.
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