A 38-year-old Irish woman is facing up to 18 months in prison after being accused of sexually assaulting a teenage tourist nearly 20 years her junior during a holiday in Magaluf, Spain.
The alleged incident occurred on June 3 at the four-star Hotel Martinique, where the woman reportedly touched the man’s genitals without his consent in a Turkish steam bath. At the time, the victim was 18 years old, while the accused was 37. Following the allegation, she was arrested, spent a night in police custody, and was later released on bail. She was allowed to return home pending an ongoing investigation.
According to prosecutors, the woman approached the young man while he was already in the sauna, sat next to him, and struck up a conversation. The indictment states she “placed her hands on his genitals and fondled them” until he protested and left. Authorities said she exploited the fact that the area was empty at the time.
If convicted, she could face an 18-month prison term, a ban on working with minors for 20 months, court costs, and compensation of €500 (£440) to the victim.
Her lawyer, Palma-based Joan Arbos, has said he plans to request that the case be dropped, arguing that “no crime took place.”
Police reported that the victim alerted hotel staff, who contacted authorities. The woman was with her husband at the time of her arrest. No trial date has been set, and in Spain, prison sentences of two years or less are typically suspended for first-time offenders.
