David O'Brien's sexual abuse sentence appeal dismissed

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

David O'Brien's appeal against an eight-year sentence, with 18 months suspended, for sexually abusing four boys was dismissed by the Court of Appeal, reported on 3 February 2021. O'Brien, who had previously been sentenced for sexually abusing six boys, was represented in an appeal concerning the severity of his 2018 sentence. The report said he had an address at Benurb Street, Dublin, and was before the Circuit Court regarding another offence. His sentences for the four boys had been ordered to run consecutively, with the final 18 months suspended subject to supervision.

The report said O'Brien had admitted abusing boys in his care and had not been accused of offences since leaving the scouts in the early 1980s. It also said the 2018 sentencing judge considered his guilty plea, remorse and cooperation with Gardaí.