Courts / Kildare / Report
Panto performer has sex assault sentence halved
Summary
Dan Horan, a 32‑year‑old panto performer from Wicklow, pleaded guilty in July 2023 to sexually assaulting a 26‑year‑old man at a house party in Naas in July 2020. The victim had fallen asleep after receiving cannabis from Horan. Horan was found to be rubbing the victim's penis while the victim's girlfriend discovered the assault at about 6 am, leading to the victim's distress. In February 2024 Judge Mary O'Malley Costello sentenced Horan to four‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended for two years. Horan appealed, arguing the headline sentence of six‑and‑a‑half years was too high. The Court of Appeal quashed the original sentence, re‑sentencing Horan to a headline of four‑and‑a‑half years, discounting 18 months, and suspending an additional 18 months to encourage rehabilitation.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Panto performer has sex assault sentence halved. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- July 2020 Incident
- 2024-02-29 Publication
Why: Ms Justice Kennedy said the complainant had felt "confusion, hopelessness, fear and embarrassment and continues to do so" because of Horan's assault. CNI source report
Case subjects
Applicant
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: In February of last year, Judge Mary O'Malley Costello sentenced Horan to four-and-a-half years' imprisonment with the final 18 months suspended for two years. Sarah Connolly BL, for the DPP, had submitted the sentence imposed on Horan was "well within the margin for the sentencing judge for what is a very serious offence".
Places mentioned
Topics
Drugs Stage Appeal Violent Crime
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