group had enjoyed drinks and played card games as the evening wore on.

She said that she had put on her pajamas and retired to the double bed she was later to share with her husband.

The female gave evidence that she was awakened from sleep by a man who was molesting her.

The victim then explained that as a bedside locker light was switched on by her husband her attacker got out of bed with his trousers down.

She gave evidence she was highly distressed afterwards and was comforted and cuddled by her husband.

The court heard that on the following day the victim and her husband got a Facebook message from the accused in which he apologised to both of them for what had happened.

In the message, the accused claimed notto remember much about what had happened.

He added: "Unfortunately, loads of beer and Captain Morgan's (rum) do not fit well with me."

The message continued: "I can only guess that in my drunken stupor I went to the wrong bed."

In an emotional and lengthy victim impact statement which she read to today's sentencing hearing, the victim said being betrayed by a person she then regarded as a friend while in that most vulnerable state - sleeping - left her sick to the very core.

She spoke of her initial difficulties in reporting the incident.

“Who would take my word above that of a garda who is supposed to be a pillar of the community and above the law?”

All her emotional torment could have been avoided in 2015 if he had pleaded