Courts / Sligo / Report
High-risk child rapist caught in company of three boys to be returned to prison
Summary
Philip Sullivan, a 63-year-old Kildare native, is to be returned to prison after breaching the conditions of his suspended sentence. In 2008, the late Mr Justice Paul Carney imposed two concurrent life sentences on Sullivan for the alleged rape and sexual assault of two young boys, aged nine and 11, between 2004 and 2006. Sullivan appealed this decision, and the Court of Appeal quashed the life terms, substituting them with concurrent 15-year sentences. The final two and a half years of this term were suspended for 10 years on strict conditions, including a prohibition on being in the company of minors. Prosecutors told the High Court that in February, gardai found Sullivan in the company of three teenage boys, aged 15, 16, and 17, at his south Dublin home. While there was no evidence the boys consumed alcohol or cannabis in Sullivan's presence, his association with minors constituted a breach. Sullivan's risk assessment was subsequently upgraded from medium to high. Mr Justice Paul McDermott noted that Sullivan was not candid when confronted by gardai. The judge activated 18 months of the previously suspended sentence, ordering Sullivan's return to custody to ensure public safety and uphold the fundamental tenet of his supervision.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: High-risk child rapist caught in company of three boys to be returned to prison. Charges or matters: rape; sexual assault. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- February 15 Hearing Or Sentence
- January 29 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2004 and 2006 Incident
- 2026-04-13 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: rape; sexual assault (Alleged Or Contested)
Outcome: In 2008, the late Mr Justice Paul Carney imposed two life sentences, to run concurrently, on Kildare native Philip Sullivan for the rape and sexual assault of two young boys.
Places mentioned
- Court of Appeal
- High Court
- Central Criminal Court
- Botanic Road
Topics
Drugs Stage Appeal Violent Crime
Related court reports
- Serial criminal set car ablaze after release from Melanie McCarthy-McNamara manslaughter sentence
- Notorious child rapist 'Rossi' Walsh fails in 'confused' miscarriage of justice bid
- 'Simply no basis' for murderer's claim that his life sentence was overturned
- Murderer seeks prison release claiming Court of Appeal overturned his life sentence
- Your house will "go up like a Christmas tree"
- 'Vital' operator in money laundering scheme stole €15k in social welfare fraud
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request