Courts / Dublin / Report

Former RTE Journalist jailed for sex assault

Date
2022-07-26

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Mícheál Ó Leidhin, 38, a former RTÉ journalist, was convicted of sexual assault for an incident that occurred on the night of 13 May 2018. The assault took place at his former home in south Dublin after the victim, who remains anonymous, had been drinking with a friend. According to the court, the victim fell asleep and later woke to find Ó Leidhin on top of her, groping her breasts. He stopped after she told him to, but the victim reported the incident to Gardaí in April 2019. In April 2022, a jury found him guilty. On 26 July 2022, Justice Karen O'Connor sentenced him to 18 months' imprisonment, suspending the final three months on conditions. The judge noted the victim's traumatic impact and that Ó Leidhin had accepted the verdict but not its import. The sentence was to take effect on 1 August 2022 when he was to appear at Mountjoy Prison.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Former RTE Journalist jailed for sex assault. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted

When:

May 13, 2018 Incident
Monday, August 1 Hearing Or Sentence
April 2019 Incident
2022-07-26 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

Unnamed woman

Convicted Person

Finding: Convicted

Outcome: Convicted; Photo: Collins) A former RTÉ journalist who sexually assaulted a woman while she was sleeping has been jailed for 15 months. She handed down a sentence of 18 months and suspended the final three months on a number of conditions.