Courts / Ireland / Report

Retired Defence Forces member loses appeal against sexual assault conviction

Summary

In a Court of Appeal hearing on 7 November 2025, the appeal of retired Defence Forces member Richard Muldarry was dismissed. Muldarry had been convicted in a Court Martial in April 2024 of multiple sexual assault offences committed at a military base on 13 November 2021, including assaulting a female colleague by placing his hand on her leg and a male colleague by hugging and moving his face towards him. He also faced charges of conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline, such as lying on his back, raising his legs and presenting his buttocks area, and simulating oral sex. Muldarry argued that the trial judge erred by admitting forensic psychiatric evidence and by refusing photographs of his injuries. The Court of Appeal found no error in those decisions and upheld the conviction. The case remains at the conviction stage, with no further outcome announced.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Retired Defence Forces member loses appeal against sexual assault conviction. Charges or matters: a number of offences including sexually assaulting a female colleague by placing his right hand on the inside of her leg without consent and moving his hand towards his groin at a military base in the early hours of November 13, 2021. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Convicted

When:

• April 2024 Incident
• November 13, 2021 Other
• 2025-11-07 Publication

Why: Ms Leader said Dr Paul O'Connell was called for the prosecution but his evidence "didn't speak to the issue of concussion" because that wasn't what he was asked to do. Prosecution account reported by CNI

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Appeal Violent Crime

Read the original CNI report