Dublin man jailed for sexually assaulting his niece

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

A 23-year-old man was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for sexually assaulting his 15-year-old niece in Dublin in 2023. Judge Martina Baxter set a three-year headline sentence and backdated the prison term to when he entered custody.

The court heard the assault took place at the grandmother’s home, where the girl was staying. The judge identified the girl’s age, her uncle’s position as a trusted family member and the location as aggravating factors, and said the impact had been profound. The girl described the family as torn apart, while the judge noted the support she had from her parents.

The man’s lawyer said he did not accept the jury’s verdict. The judge cited his age at the time, bereavement, vulnerability and mental health issues among the mitigating factors.