A woman was subjected to a violent sexual assault and left deeply traumatized by a date she had met on Tinder. Identified as Sophie in order to protect her privacy, she was a student at Queen’s University Belfast when she engaged in consensual sex with Fearghall Mulgrew. However, the encounter turned extremely violent as Mulgrew proceeded to bite her on her face and body and engage in sexual acts without her consent.
The incident, which occurred in 2021, left Sophie with injuries and multiple bruises. Following the ordeal, she sought help by self-referring to The Rowan, a sexual assault referral center in Northern Ireland, and reported the assault to the Northern Irish police. In a judicial ruling on February 5 the following year at Laganside Court, Mulgrew, hailing from Stewartstown, was convicted of sexual assault by penetration and five counts of assault causing actual bodily harm. He received a 22-month sentence, with eight months to be served in custody, and was ordered to be on the sex offenders register for a decade.
In an interview with BelfastLive, Sophie shared her story to encourage other sexual assault survivors to seek justice. Recounting the harrowing experience, she described how Mulgrew’s behavior escalated from the agreed-upon boundaries to extreme violence, including biting, choking, and non-consensual acts. Despite expressing her discomfort and pain, Mulgrew callously continued his actions, even finding amusement in her suffering.
Sophie admitted that it took her months to fully come to terms with the trauma and its impact on her mental health. However, with the support of her family and mental health professionals, she gradually began to recover. Reflecting on her journey, Sophie emphasized the importance of speaking out against sexual assault, breaking the stigma, and highlighting the complexities of consent. She praised the assistance she received from The Rowan center and the police, acknowledging their commitment to supporting and guiding her through the legal process despite the challenges posed by her location in London.
Today, Sophie is in a much better place emotionally and is actively engaged in her recovery process. She remains determined to use her experience to empower others to speak up, seek help, and challenge misconceptions about consent. By sharing her story and advocating for survivors, Sophie aims to inspire others to come forward and pursue justice, emphasizing that no one should feel alone or silenced in the face of sexual violence.