Bill Irish jailed for sexual assault and oral rape

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Bill Irish was jailed for five and a half years at the Central Criminal Court for sexual abuse offences against his cousin. The proceedings were reported on 15 January 2024.

A jury convicted Irish on 29 counts, including oral rape and sexual assault, after an 11-day trial. It was unable to reach verdicts on 16 counts. The offending began when he was 12 and Hannah Irish was seven, and continued until she was 12.

The judge reduced a 14-year headline sentence for the oral rape offences to seven years, taking account of Irish’s age and other mitigating factors. The final 18 months were suspended on condition of post-release engagement with the Probation Service; the five-year sexual assault sentences are concurrent.

Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo said Hannah Irish’s statement described the abuse’s profound impact and commended her courage in coming forward. She had waived her anonymity so Irish could be named.