Courts / Dublin / Report
Judge wants to consider RTE journalist's remorse for sex assault
Summary
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, the sentencing of 38‑year‑old RTE journalist Mícheál Ó Leidhin was adjourned to 27 July 2022 while the court considered the weight of his remorse. Ó Leidhin, convicted in April 2022 of sexual assault at his former home in south Dublin, had denied the offence but now accepts the jury verdict. The judge noted that evidence had been challenged and a narrative presented to the jury. The complainant, who remains anonymous, reported that after a night of drinking and kissing, she fell asleep and later found Ó Leidhin on top of her, groping her breasts. She told him to stop; he apologized. She later expressed annoyance and the pair agreed to "differ" on the events. The court heard that Ó Leidhin had no prior convictions and had cooperated fully with investigators. The judge will decide how much weight to give to his remorse before sentencing.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Judge wants to consider RTE journalist's remorse for sex assault. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted
When:
- May 13, 2018 Incident
- July 27, 2022 Adjournment
- April 2019 Incident
- 2022-05-23 Publication
Why: She was unable to get public transport for a long time because the "touch from a stranger was unbearable". CNI source report
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; Ó Leidhin, a native of Ballinskelligs, Co Kerry, had denied the offence but his lawyers told a sentence hearing earlier this month at the Central Criminal Court that he now accepts the verdict of the jury.; The sentencing of an RTE journalist for sexual assaulting a woman while she was sleeping in his bed has been adjourned after the judge said she wants to consider how much weight should be given to his expressions of remorse.
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
Topics
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