Joe McCabe given suspended sentence for sexual assault

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

Joe McCabe was given a fully suspended 18-month sentence for sexually assaulting his friend at the Central Criminal Court on 19 December 2022.

He pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assaulting his friend at his home in Beaufield Crescent, Maynooth, Co Kildare, between 2 and 31 March 2018. He was 17 at the time, while the complainant was 16.

Ms Justice Karen O’Connor had remanded McCabe in custody at a hearing the previous week before suspending the sentence in full on a number of conditions.

The report said the complainant was upset about a relationship breakdown when she went to McCabe’s house. Garda David Kenny told prosecuting counsel Vincent Heneghan SC that McCabe later kissed and touched her, despite her repeatedly saying no.

In mitigation, John Fitzgerald SC said McCabe had matured, suffered from haemophilia and long-standing anxiety, moved school and attempted to take his own life. He said McCabe wished to apologise for the impact on the young woman.

The proceedings were reported on 19 December 2022.