Former Accountant Jailed for Sexual Assault Deported from Ireland Until 2029

Nabil Habbar, 41, an Algerian national, was deported from Ireland on April 24, 2024, and cannot re-enter until September 2029. This follows his conviction for sexually assaulting a teenage girl in Athlone nearly five years ago.

In November 2023, Judge Keenan Johnson sentenced Habbar to three years and six months, with the final nine months suspended for four years. The case was relisted at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court due to his inability to comply with Probation Service supervision after release. The prosecution sought a variation to the probation order, with Judge Cephas Power adjourning a ruling until later this month.

Habbar, a former accountant in Algeria who later worked in hospitality in Ireland, had no prior convictions. The assault occurred in August 2021 as the victim celebrated her Leaving Certificate results. Habbar approached her, complimented her, and walked with her, steering her in a particular direction. After she briefly rejoined a friend and he was warned off, Habbar returned when she was alone, forcibly kissed her, touched her left thigh, moved her underwear, and forced his finger into her vagina despite her pleas to stop. He also placed her hand on his penis through his clothing before another man intervened.

The victim sustained injuries consistent with the assault. Habbar initially denied the assault, claiming the girl was drunk or seeking drugs, but later apologized. The victim's impact statement highlighted her distress and the lasting negative effect on her Leaving Certificate night. She refused €1,000 compensation from Habbar, which was instead directed to a domestic violence charity. Judge Johnson praised her for reporting the crime, noting the assault was a "very serious assault on a young, vulnerable woman."