‘Didn't see me as human, he's an animal' – Tourist raped in Dublin bravely waives anonymity to open up on night of hell

The Irish Sun

2 days ago

A BRAVE Spanish tourist has revealed how her life was 'turned upside down' after she was raped at a New Year's party in Dublin.
Claudia Pelegrina Salcedo, 26, spoke out after Christopher O'Grady was given a seven-year sentence, with six months ­suspended, on Thursday for raping her on ­January 1, 2019.
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Brave Claudia Pelegrina spoke out after rapist O'Grady was sentenced
Credit: Gary Ashe-Commissioned by The Sun Dublin
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Monster Christopher O'Grady was sentenced for raping the tourist
Credit: Screen grabs from video footage
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Claudia told her story to The Irish Sun Crime Editor Stephen Breen
Credit: Gary Ashe-Commissioned by The Sun Dublin
O'Grady, 34, and formerly of ­Muirhevnamor, Dundalk, Co Louth, deliberately targeted the Spanish woman — then aged 19 — as she tried to find her pal.
Ms Pelegrina Salcedo — who waived her right to anonymity as part of her efforts to encourage other victims of sexual violence to come forward — spoke exclusively to The Irish Sun after he was sentenced at the ­Central Criminal Court.
She said: 'I just wanted to find my friends that night and he deliberately ­targeted me. He is nothing more than an animal and a scavenger.
'I remember being like a doll. He was taking me around doing what he wanted with me. I remember him holding me up and hoping that people walking past us would come and help me.
'I wasn't able to stand and I remember I felt ­disgusted — he didn't see me as a human being that night.
'He was reassuring and also comforting — and he had lulled me into a false sense of security.
'I hope that when he goes to jail he reflects on what he did that night and is a changed man when he comes out of prison.'
And the Spanish woman also offered to meet the coward, adding: 'Although I don't know why, I know I want to speak to my attacker in a safe place and ask him why.
'He turned my life upside down and he didn't see the person behind my body.
'I would like to be able to look him in the eye and ask him what reasons anyone could have to be so cruel to a young woman who, alone and driven by fear, found no other way out than to trust a stranger to help her.
'I want to see if he believes his lies and I want him to witness the pain he has caused, to suffer my pain, see the wounds he's left on me and to see himself as monstrous, as I have seen.
"When I came home from those New Year's Eve celebrations, I was a different person than the one that went out that night.
'I am afraid of things that I used to enjoy.'
After posing as a Good Samaritan and offering to help her outside a shop in the capital's Dame Street, the fiend walked Claudia to Dublin Castle and subjected her to a ­terrifying ordeal.
I have previously thought about forgiveness, but he has never accepted any responsibility for his actions that night."
Claudia Pelegrina Salcedo
The rape survivor, who was on her first trip to Ireland, reported the crime the following day, with a probe launched by officers from Pearse Street Garda Station.
O'Grady — who only admitted his involvement in the vile New Year's attack when Claudia offered to meet him — was found guilty on one count of rape at the Central Criminal Court on March 6 past, after a three-week trial.
Although he had made ­admissions to Gardai about his engagement with the tourist, he still pleaded not guilty.
It took a jury just over one hour to convict him of the offence in a unanimous verdict.
EXCLUSIVE CCTV SNAP
During the court process, Ms ­Pelegrina Salcedo spent five days in the witness box, including four days being cross-examined.
Our exclusive CCTV image of the rapist shows him in Dublin City Centre after the attack.
The chilling footage shows him continuing to enjoy the New Year's Eve celebrations.
He was later identified from CCTV by the Garda team at Pearse Street, led by Sgt Eoghan Kirwan, Det Garda Sonia Skelly, Det Garda Michael Moore and Det Garda Des Rodgers, under the command of former Supt Joseph Gannon.
Since the horrific attack, Ms ­Pelegrina Salcedo has suffered from post traumatic stress disorder, depression, fear, isolation and has undergone counselling.
I would like to thank [Claudia] for having the courage to come forward and tell the truth about what happened that night."
Ex Garda Supt Joseph Gannon
She added: 'I am pleased that I secured justice and that the jury believed me.
'Everything I told was the truth and I found the inner strength to come forward.
'When I saw him in court for the first time, it was very hard because he was clearly ­trying to portray himself as someone who was nice.
"I have previously thought about forgiveness, but he has never accepted any responsibility for his actions that night.'
The rape victim also paid tribute to the Garda investigation team, hospital staff, the court's Victim Support Service, her family, friends and partner Pol for their support since 2019.
SUPPORT PRAISE
And Ms Pelegrina Salcedo — who is ­completing a masters degree in psychology and is hoping to work with victims of sexual violence — urged other victims to come ­forward, too.
She said: 'The hardest thing anyone can do is make that call, but once they do the support is phenomenal.
'I can't thank everyone enough who has been there with me and it would have been impossible for me to do this on my own.'
Retired top cop Mr Gannon also paid tribute to his former colleagues for their work on the case.
He told The Irish Sun: 'This was an extremely professional and diligent investigation that has led to justice being secured for this brave young woman.
'I would also like to thank her for having the courage to come forward and tell the truth about what happened that night.
'I would like to wish her the very best for the future.'
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Claudia's boyfriend Pol Massegosa showed up to support her
Credit: Gary Ashe-Commissioned by The Sun Dublin
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O'Grady was given a seven-year sentence, with six months ­suspended
Credit: Screen grabs from video footage