Celebrity acquitted of three sexual offence charges

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

An unnamed celebrity was acquitted on all three charges of engaging in sexual acts with a child under the age of 17. The proceedings were reported on 20 October 2023.

He had pleaded not guilty to the three counts. They concerned alleged acts at locations in Dublin between August and December 2010, when the complainant was 16 and the man was 27.

The complainant said she initially told the man she was 18 but later told him she was 16. She alleged that oral sex took place once at his workplace and on two occasions at his home. She said the sexual contact was consensual.

The defendant denied the charges and said the complainant did not reveal her true age until after she had turned 17. He said no sexual activity took place until she was over 18.

Judge Pauline Codd presided during the defence closing speech. The jury had deliberated for more than five and a half hours since 19 October 2023 before delivering its verdicts.