Courts / Dublin / Report

Long-serving soldier jailed for sexually abusing sister, assaulting partner

Date
2024-03-07

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Swords

County
Dublin

Summary

Derek Delaney, a 60‑year‑old former Irish Defence Forces soldier who served 43 years and five tours in Lebanon, was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 20 months in prison for indecent assault of his sister between 1982 and 1988 and to a concurrent 15‑month sentence for assault causing harm to his former partner on 2 July 2023. Delaney admitted the indecent assault occurred when he was in his early twenties and his sister, aged nine to eleven, was sexually abused at a family home on Bunratty Road, Coolock. He also admitted head‑butting and knocking his partner unconscious after an argument, citing jealousy. The judge reduced the headline sentence of two to four years on mitigating factors, including Delaney's long military service. Derek Delaney pleaded guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Long-serving soldier jailed for sexually abusing sister, assaulting partner. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

October 1982 Incident
December 1988 Incident
July 2 Incident
August 2022 Incident
February 7, 1985 Incident
October 27, 1982 Hearing Or Sentence
2024-03-07 Publication

Why: Delaney's sister, Ms Jackie Gardiner, has waived her anonymity in order to allow her brother be named. CNI source report

Case subjects

Derek Delaney

Defendant

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: At a hearing today before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Delaney to 20 months in prison for indecent assault and to a concurrent sentence of 15 months for assault causing harm. The judge set a headline sentence of two to four years but reduced it based on mitigating factors, including Delaney's long history of work and service to the State.