Courts / Galway / Report

Man jailed for defiling teenage cousin (16)

Summary

In January 2022, a 32‑year‑old man was sentenced to 30 months in prison for defiling his 16‑year‑old cousin on a church grounds in Galway in May 2018. He pleaded guilty to a sexual act with a child under 17, an offence that carries a maximum penalty of five years. At the time of the offence he was 29. The victim, who was intoxicated and unable to keep her eyes open, described how the man kissed and groped her after she refused to go to the bushes. He denied any wrongdoing during questioning. The court noted his 140 prior convictions, including assault, robbery, burglary, knife possession, theft, public order offences and four Covid‑related convictions. The judge, citing the victim's vulnerability and the lack of grooming or violence, set a headline sentence of three and a half years, reduced by one year for mitigating factors, and imposed a two‑year post‑release supervision period.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Man jailed for defiling teenage cousin (16). Charges or matters: engaging in a sexual act with a child under the age of 17 on a date in May 2018 at a place in Galway city. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• May 2018 Incident
• May 22, 2018 Incident
• 2022-01-12 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Burglary Public Order Stage Sentence Theft Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report