Courts / Dublin / Report
One-year jail term for man who sexually assaulted stepdaughter's friend (12) on sleepover
Summary
A 43‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to one year in jail for sexually assaulting a 12‑year‑old girl who was a friend of his stepdaughter during a sleepover at his home. The assault occurred on 14 February 2015 when the girl was asleep beside his daughter's bed. The man placed his hand under the girl's top while she slept and attempted to get under her sports bra. He was found guilty by a jury in a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial in November 2014. Judge Cormac Quinn noted the offence was a serious breach of trust and imposed a one‑year term, citing the maximum penalty of 14 years for child sexual assault. The sentence was not suspended. The victim, now 15, described the lasting impact on her life, including fear, loss of friends, and panic attacks, and expressed uncertainty about the man's motives.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: One-year jail term for man who sexually assaulted stepdaughter's friend (12) on sleepover. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Found guilty
When:
- February 14, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2018-03-09 Publication
Why: In a victim impact statement read out in court by counsel, the girl, now aged 15, described how she found it extremely difficult going through the trial and being introduced to the criminal justice system at such a young age – "all because he wouldn't own up". CNI source report
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Finding: Found guilty
Outcome: Found guilty; A Dublin man who sexually assaulted his stepdaughter's 12-year-old friend while she was having a sleepover in his house has been jailed for one year. The offending was at the lower end of the scale, he submitted, and he urged Judge Quinn to impose a suspended sentence.
Places mentioned
Topics
Sexual Offences Stage Sentence Violent Crime
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