Paul Morris jailed for attempted rape and sexual assault

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

Paul Morris was jailed for eight years for two counts of sexual assault and one count of attempted rape at the Central Criminal Court on 21 November 2022. Mr Justice Michael MacGrath reduced a headline sentence of 10 years to eight years, taking account of Morris's lack of previous convictions and medical history.

The offences occurred at Morris's address in Chianti Park, Tallaght, between 1 May 2010 and 1 April 2011, when the boy was aged between 13 and 14. Morris maintains his innocence and does not accept the jury's guilty verdicts. His defence cited multiple sclerosis, spinal-cord inflammation, psychological issues and custody-related difficulties; the report said he had been assessed as at moderate risk of re-offending.

The proceedings were reported on 21 November 2022.