Courts / Kildare / Report
Ex-army captain fails in bid to overturn dismissal for sex assault
Summary
Ross O'Shea, a former army captain, was found guilty by a General Court Martial in October 2022 of sexually assaulting a female non‑commissioned officer at a barracks social function on 25 June 2020. He was convicted of two charges – sexual assault and a Section 2 assault under the Non‑Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 – and was dismissed from the Defence Forces. A custodial sentence of six months at the Curragh Camp was imposed but suspended for one year. O'Shea had pleaded guilty to five of 18 charges, was acquitted of seven, and four were withdrawn. In a Court of Appeal hearing on 4 November 2025, Mr Justice John Edwards upheld the dismissal, noting the conduct was "corrosive of discipline" and that the psychological impact on the victims was significant. The victims welcomed the decision. The appeal argued the offences were an aberration in an otherwise glittering career, but the court found the dismissal justified.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Ex-army captain fails in bid to overturn dismissal for sex assault. Charges or matters: five charges, including charges of conduct contrary to good order and two charges of assault against two female NCO officers contrary to Section 2 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997; two other charges – sexual assault and a section 2 assault – and acquitted of a further seven charges, while four more were withdrawn during the trial. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Found guilty
When:
- October 2022 Incident
- June 25, 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
- September 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
- October 14, 2022 Incident
- 2025-11-04 Publication
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: five charges, including charges of conduct contrary to good order and two charges of assault against two female NCO officers contrary to Section 2 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997; two other charges – sexual assault and a section 2 assault – and acquitted of a further seven charges, while four more were withdrawn during the trial (Proven)
Plea: Guilty
Finding: Found guilty
Outcome: Found guilty; His dismissal was ordered as part of the sentence imposed on these two charges. A custodial sentence of six months detention in the Curragh Camp was also imposed but this was suspended for a period of one year.
Places mentioned
- Court of Appeal
Topics
Related court reports
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request