Wondering what my rights are when assualted

sml_2014

I am female and was assualted 3 years old when I was 18 by a man ages about 26 or 27 years old.
It took place in his house infront of other people. I didn't know him but I went there with other people who did know him. I turned him down when he tried to kiss me and he kept coming onto me as I am already in a relationship which he knows my partner. I was drinking that night and after he threw me on the floor from a chair he started kicking me and I had to be dragged out of his place by other men who got me away from him. I woke up the next day with bruising on my side and back of my legs.

Then he started putting status's up on facebook saying alot of lies as to why he did what he did and the reason behind it that he gave did not occur. But he still admitted what he done on this status. He started saying vulgar horrible stuff as to what else he should have done to me and called me names. I have heard he is violent towards previous girlfriends.
I'm assuming he was embarrassed i kept turning him down infront of people that he started trying to make me look like the fool when really he looked like an insecure violent bell-end. The other men in the house would not come forward when I went to the gardai as they were afraid. I showed the gardai the status's he put up and showed them a photo of my leg, they weren't very helpful so as I was only 18 i just never went further about it. I'd like to know what my rights were though.

Pat Mustard

Save printouts and screengrabs of what has been posted online.

Follow up with Gardai in relation to the complaint of assault. Follow up with a letter if necessary.

If you want to sue this man for assault, make a list of the assets that he owns (house, car, etc.), make a list of his details, and see a solicitor.

You should hurry as you have left things a long time. The Statute of Limitations controls the amount of time which is allowed in relation to civil actions, to include actions for assault.

P. Breathnach

There might also be a separate issue to pursue: if what he said on facebook is damaging to your good name, you could consider an action for defamation. That's a civil, rather than a criminal, matter.