Noel Farrell jailed for 20 years for sexually abusing five children

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

Noel Farrell, 70, was sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to sexual offences against five of his children. The Central Criminal Court heard that the abuse took place in Co Sligo and that the children were also neglected, left hungry and at times locked in a room and left to drink urine. Farrell had initially faced 109 counts; he pleaded guilty to three counts of rape and 19 counts of indecent and sexual assault.

The judge described the offending as extremely cruel and grave. He set a headline sentence of 30 years and reduced it to 20 years, citing the guilty plea as the sole mitigating factor. The court heard that the siblings spoke of lasting effects on their mental health and relationships. Farrell will be registered as a sex offender.