Chilling moment twisted rapist targets innocent teen in Dublin city after telling her he would help her find friends
Our exclusive image shows him leading Claudia Pelegrina Salcedo into a Londis shop on O'Connell Street just after the brutal attack.
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A picture taken of Claudia in Dublin the night before she was raped
Credit: Gary Ashe-Commissioned by The Sun Dublin
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O'Grady, 33, leading Claudia, now 26, away from dozens of people before he raped her
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CCTV shows him leading Claudia Pelegrina Salcedo into a Londis shop on O'Connell Street just after the brutal attack
And another CCTV image shows O'Grady, 33, leading Claudia, now 26, away from dozens of people during New Year's Eve celebrations in Dublin on January 1, 2019, before he raped her.
Seconds earlier, the predator, from Muirhevnamor, Dundalk, Co Louth, offered to help the vulnerable Spanish tourist when he said: 'I'll take you to meet your friends.'
The rape victim had asked O'Grady to show her the way to the River Bar on O'Connell Street.
The CCTV footage showed the rapist placing one arm behind her and one in front as she struggled to stay on her feet.
Instead of helping Claudia, who was just 19 at the time and under the influence of alcohol, the sex beast walked her in the opposite direction to the back of Dublin Castle before raping her.
Following the horrific attack, O'Grady then casually brought her back into Dublin City Centre.
She only managed to escape his clutches when a woman came to her aid and offered to help her.
But he's no longer a threat to women after he received a seven-year sentence, with six months suspended, at the Central Criminal Court, last Thursday.
He was later identified from CCTV by the Garda team at Pearse Street, led by Sgt Eoghan Kirwan, Det Garda Sonia Skelly, Det Garda Michael Moore and Det Garda Des Rodgers, under the command of ex-Supt Joe Gannon.
Former Supt Gannon described the CCTV footage as 'deeply sinister'.
He said: 'This was nothing more than a predatory attack in which a young woman was deliberately targeted because she was under the influence of alcohol.
'The footage clearly shows O'Grady's intentions that night and he was guiding her away from the crowds for the sole purpose of raping her.
'The young girl needed assistance to stand and here he was placing his hands on her back and also in front of her so he could walk her to an isolated spot.
'The CCTV was important in this professional investigation and thankfully justice has prevailed.'
I now just want to put this nightmare behind me and focus on my future."
Claudia Pelegrina Salcedo
Rachel Morrogh, Chief Executive of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, praised Claudia over her decision to come forward.
Ms Morrogh said: 'We commend the immense bravery of Claudia Pelegrina Salcedo who was raped by Christopher O'Grady and whose determination to seek justice resulted in a seven-year sentence.
'This case was particularly distressing because of the predatory nature of the attack, the dispassionate abuse of trust and the vulnerability of the victim.
'Young women should be able to have a realistic expectation that going out and enjoying themselves is a safe thing to do.
"Yet, time and again, we see that there is still a long way to go before that expectation becomes a reality.'
LAUGHING & JOKING AFTER ATTACK
Our latest revelation comes after we published CCTV footage of O'Grady laughing and joking after the attack.
His brave victim returned to Ireland for his sentence but is now back in her native Spain.
In an exclusive interview with The Irish Sun, Claudia, who waived her right to anonymity as part of her efforts to help other victims, is now focused on trying to rebuild her life.
She said: 'I now just want to put this nightmare behind me and focus on my future.
'If people in Ireland are suffering, then I would encourage them to come forward, because justice can prevail.'
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Claudia waived her right to anonymity as part of her efforts to help other victims
Credit: Gary Ashe-Commissioned by The Sun Dublin
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