‘threat to women’ | 

Tragic rally driver Damien Fleming suspected of rape and attacks on prostitutes

It has emerged that the Kerry native had a number of convictions for attempted robbery, assault and public order dating back to 2015

Today at 06:39

THE rally driver tragically killed while competing last weekend was previously the subject of an internal garda notice for suspected attacks on prostitutes.

Damien Fleming (37), from Killarney in Co Kerry, died in the serious two-car collision during the fourth stage of the Clare Stages Rally on Sunday.

There were several tributes paid to Fleming, who died at the scene of the collision, from several members of the motorsport fraternity who were unaware of his background.

However, it has emerged that the Kerry native had a number of convictions for attempted robbery, assault and public order dating back to 2015.

He was also the subject of an internal garda notice for suspected attacks on women involved in prostitution, according to Sunday World sources.

Fleming was described as being “a serious threat to women” and suspected of attacks on prostitutes across Ireland.

The garda warning said he was suspected of involvement in assaults, false imprisonment, attempted rape and rape – but none of the victims were willing to make a formal complaint against him.

Fleming appeared at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in 2015 charged with the attempted robbery of a woman who was walking through the capital two years previously, during which he slapped his hand on to her mouth.

He ambushed the woman but was caught and handed over to gardai by three passers-by, it was heard at the time.

Fleming had grabbed the woman from behind but she managed to get free and fled. Gardai later found a carpet knife in his pocket, but the court heard this was not used during the incident.

Fleming later told investigators that he was in the middle of a drinking binge and that he was trying to get money from the woman but that he then changed his mind.

The trial judge imposed a suspended sentence of three years and ordered Fleming to pay €8,000 to the victim, but that the judge would decide where it goes if the victim declined the cash.

Fleming pleaded guilty to attempted robbery at Herbert Park in Ballsbridge on November 4, 2013 and the court heard at the time he had three previous convictions for assault and public order.

A garda witness told the court that the victim was walking her dog through the park when she noticed Fleming walking very close behind her.

Fleming reached around her and put his hand over her mouth with a hard slap.

The woman began to struggle and managed to free herself before Fleming ran away through the park.

The victim shouted for help and called gardai on her phone while a nearby man chased Fleming out of the park.

A cyclist and an elderly man saw the chase and blocked Fleming’s way before holding him until gardai arrived.

After his arrest, as Fleming got out of the patrol car at the station, a carpet knife fell out of his pocket, but it had not been used during the attempted robbery.

He told gardai he was an alcoholic and that he suffered from depression and had spent hundreds of euro on alcohol that weekend and wanted to get money from the victim.

He said he made the decision to stop the robbery because he knew it was wrong.

“I was never going to hurt anyone in any way, no way like,” he said.

His defence counsel said Fleming, who worked as a fitter at that time, had already offered compensation to the victim but she refused to take it.

It was added that he had a good work history and was alcohol free after undergoing a residential treatment course.

The garda warning about his suspected attacks on prostitutes came after this conviction, according to Sunday World sources.

The collision in which co-driver Fleming was killed took place during the fourth stage of the rally last Sunday.

The driver of the car in which he was competing was uninjured, while the driver of a second car was taken to hospital for treatment.

Members of the rallying community were deeply shocked at the news of the fatal collision and paid tribute to Fleming, who had been competing in rallies since 2006.