DUBLIN - A homeless drug user known locally as "Junkie John from Whitechurch" has been jailed for 10 months after sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl in her school uniform on a Dublin bus.
John Allen, 53, of Whitechurch, Ballybodan, Dublin 16, pleaded guilty to sexual assault at Dublin Metropolitan District Court. Judge John Hughes imposed two 10-month sentences, with the second suspended for two years on strict conditions.
The Attack
The incident occurred in October 2025 at approximately 8:30pm. The girl, who had been celebrating her best friend's birthday, boarded the bus home and sat at the back. Allen sat beside her, rubbed her upper thigh, and stuck his hand under her school skirt.
When she moved to another seat towards the front, he followed her, sat on the outside blocking her escape, and tried to move his hand further up her leg. She shouted "Stop and leave me alone!" — and he got off at the next stop.
CCTV Evidence
Garda Elaine Phelan told the court that CCTV footage was of "good clear quality" and captured the assault. "You can clearly see him stroke her leg and move his hand under her skirt."
Allen was arrested at Nutgrove Shopping Centre on 7 January 2026. When interviewed, he made no admissions, responding to the charge with: "That's interesting, very interesting, no comment."
Victim Impact
The girl, who delivered her own statement, described the day starting as a "great day" but now it "haunts" her:
"I tried to wash away the unclean feeling but I can't wash it away. I didn't want to wear my uniform, or get the bus, or go to school."
Her teachers allowed her to wear her tracksuit to feel "safe." She remains unable to sit at the back of the bus and looks over her shoulder constantly. She fears the assault will affect future relationships due to difficulty trusting.
"For the rest of my life, that will be the most traumatising day of my life."
Judge Hughes' Response
Judge Hughes, who has a daughter the same age, praised the girl's courage: "Good girl" for shouting at her attacker. He told her:
"Don't think of your best friend's birthday as the day that Allen sexually assaulted you, but as the day that you were sexually assaulted by him and stood up to him."
He added: "He will be going to jail, and when he gets out, it will be in his mind, I would imagine, he would rather not meet you, instead of you being afraid to meet him."
The judge noted Allen was likely one of "hundreds" of victims, stating: "In my experience, people like him have been doing this on buses to girls in school uniforms for decades."
Allen’s Record
39 previous convictions, including assault, production of a knife, drug possession, obstruction, theft, criminal damage and public order offences
Was on a suspended sentence at the time of the assault — now triggered
Has a higher diploma in environmental studies from UCD but has been unable to work due to substance abuse issues
Defence said he was "completely intoxicated" and "doesn't remember the specifics"
Sentence
10 months imprisonment (first sentence)
10 months suspended for 2 years (second sentence) on conditions: banned from all buses, excluded from certain South Dublin areas, must complete a sexual offenders course, no contact with the victim