Three Dublin Men Found Guilty in Nightclub Sexual Assault Case

In a significant verdict, a Dublin court has found Anthony Hickey, Fabio Vicente, and Matin Zolfaghari guilty of raping and sexually assaulting a woman they met in a nightclub in August 2019.

Hickey, Vicente, and Zolfaghari Convicted

Hickey, a 39-year-old personal trainer, and Vicente, a 42-year-old from Co Wicklow, were found guilty of sexually assaulting the woman in both a car and Hickey’s home in Dundrum. Zolfaghari, 34, was convicted of oral rape in Hickey’s home but acquitted of sexual assault in the car.

Jury’s Decision

The jury reached their verdict after a two-and-a-half week trial at the Central Criminal Court, deciding in favor of conviction by an 11:1 margin after over 13 hours of deliberation. The accused men were remanded in custody, with sentencing scheduled for March 10. This date will also see the judge hear evidence about the impact of the crime on the victim.

Victim’s Statement

The woman, who stayed behind at the nightclub after her friend left, described how things became “hazy and faded.” She believed she had been drugged, although toxicology tests later revealed only alcohol and cocaine in her system, no evidence of so-called rape drugs.

She could not remember leaving the nightclub or her first recollection was sitting in the back of a vehicle she initially thought was a taxi. In reality, it was owned by one of the accused.

The victim recounted that