Courts / Dublin / Report

Serial sex attacker Gierlowski argues DNA evidence should have been excluded

Date
2025-12-04

Stage
Appeal

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Slawomir Gierlowski, a convicted serial sex offender, appeared before the Court of Appeal to challenge his conviction for the May 30, 2011, attack on a young mother at Ballymount Park. Gierlowski, who maintains his innocence, was found guilty by a jury of assault causing harm, false imprisonment, and production of an article. His legal team argued that the case relied on fragile circumstantial evidence and weak forensic material, specifically DNA found on a cigarette packet and a flex. Counsel for the State countered that the evidence must be viewed cumulatively, noting that the flex bore Gierlowski's partial fingerprint and the victim's DNA, while a Marlboro box with his DNA was found near the scene despite his denial of smoking that brand. The Court of Appeal reserved its judgment on this appeal. Gierlowski's current status stems from a July 2021 sentencing where he received a further ten years consecutive to his 2018 sentence of 22.5 years (with four years suspended) for prior attacks, totaling 28.5 years. He was subsequently sentenced to an additional six years for the Ballymount Park offence. The matter remains under appeal, with the court yet to deliver its final decision on the validity of the conviction.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Serial sex attacker Gierlowski argues DNA evidence should have been excluded. Charges or matters: attempted rape, sexual assault and assault causing harm of a fourth victim on the night of December 18, 2010. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Convicted

When:

May 2019 Incident
December 18, 2010 Adjournment
July 2021 Adjournment
May 30, 2011 Incident
July 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
2011 and 2016 Incident
2025-12-04 Publication

Case subjects

Slawomir Gierlowski

Convicted Person

Charges: attempted rape, sexual assault and assault causing harm of a fourth victim on the night of December 18, 2010 (Proven)

Finding: Convicted

Outcome: Convicted; Gierlowski was previously sentenced in 2018 to 22 and a half years with four years suspended for random outdoor attacks on three other women between 2011 and 2016. The Court of Appeal dismissed these appeals and in July 2021, he was sentenced for this offence to a further ten years consecutive to the earlier sentence, giving a total prison sentence of 28 and a half years.; Sentencing for those offences was adjourned while Gierlowski appealed his 2018 convictions and the severity of that sentence.