A victim of the so-called ‘Tinder Rapist’ has said she is concerned about the safety of women on dating apps ahead of his release from prison.
Currently, convicted sex offender Patrick Nevin, previously of Meadowlands Court, Dún Laoghaire, is behind bars in Portlaoise Prison.
In 2019, he was handed a 14 year jail sentence after convictions for the rape of one woman and the sexual assault of a further two - all of whom he met on the dating app Tinder.
However, he is due to be released in the spring, having been in custody since his arrest in 2014.
On The Pat Kenny Show, one of his victims, ‘Zara’, recalled how she met Nevin while living in Dublin back in 2014.
A friend suggested that she download the app Tinder and create a profile.
Thinking it sounded like a good way to meet local people in a new city and practice her English, ‘Zara’ did just that.
“It was the worst thing I did in my life,” she recalled.
“I had this profile for some weeks and I matched with this guy.”
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At first, the man she matched with seemed very friendly and kind.
Eventually, she agreed to meet him for a coffee but when they met, he told her wanted to have sex instead.
“I remember some things but after 11 years, I think my brain just cleaned my mind - thank God for that,” she said.
“I had bad moments with this guy.
“When he stopped the car, he tried to kiss me, he tried to remove my clothes.”
Fearing for her life, ‘Zara’ got out of the car and a stranger helped her get a taxi back home.
All these years on, the impact of that day is still with her.
“I don't want to date anyone,” she said.
“I didn't have a life, I don't have kids, I don't have a husband, I don't want.
“And I'm scared about men; I don't want to stay alone with men anymore.
“I always prefer places where I can see more than one person because I don't feel safe.”
Release
When she was informed Nevin would be released this spring, ‘Zara' felt instantly cold and her mind went back to the trial all those years ago.
With his release imminent, ‘Zara’ has this advice for anyone using a dating app.
“The only thing that I can say for other women is be careful,” she warned.
“The men are always on this type of platform - it's not the real person.
“You never know who is there; probably a good man, good woman - or it can be a monster.”
If you have been impacted by any of the issues discussed in this article, you can contact Women’s Aid’s National Freephone Helpline 1800 341 900 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Main image: Patrick Nevin.
