John Curtin, aged 59, was sentenced to 20 years in prison, with the final year suspended for one year, after a jury convicted him on 78 counts of rape and sexual assault against eight boys between 1995 and 2007. The Central Criminal Court heard that Curtin, a former hospital porter, lured boys around the age of 11 with cigarettes, then abused them in his home and other rural locations, encouraging them to touch him and, in some cases, to sit on his lap in his car. Victims described lasting psychological damage, including depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and difficulties in education, relationships and employment. Curtin denies the charges and has never apologized. The judge imposed a 20‑year sentence, a one‑year suspended term, and conditions of probation, a sexual offenders treatment programme and no contact with children.
Arslan Cheema, 29, received an 18‑month suspended prison sentence for sexually assaulting a 19‑year‑old student outside her accommodation in Dublin in April 2021. The victim, who had been on first‑name terms with Cheema and had ordered takeaways from him, described the assault as a profound violation of trust that left her emotionally devastated, requiring hospital treatment and medication. Cheema pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault. Judge Orla Crowe imposed the suspended sentence on strict conditions for three years, noting the breach of trust and the victim's impact statement. Cheema will be listed on the sex offenders' register and warned that any negative Garda attention during the period could lead to a different view. He has no prior convictions and had lost his Bus Eireann job following the case's publicity.
In the Central Criminal Court, a 22‑year‑old defendant pleaded guilty to six counts of sexual assault against a former girlfriend who was 16 at the time of the offences. The victim, who has not been named, criticised the Director of Public Prosecution's decision to accept the plea, stating she did not want to take the deal and felt her privacy had been exploited again. She described a pattern of intimidation, including the defendant waiting for her at school gates and sitting near her in classrooms, and detailed the emotional and psychological impact of the abuse, such as nightmares, panic attacks, self‑harm and suicidal ideation. Mr Justice Paul Burns noted the defendant's juvenile status and the controlling behaviour, and imposed a sentence of four years with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions for three years.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Mark Moran, 44, received a suspended 21‑month prison sentence for possession of 782 images and 20 films of child sexual abuse material seized from his home in 2015. The court noted that no aggravating factors such as distribution were present, and that Moran had no prior convictions. He pleaded guilty, expressed remorse, and acknowledged that the material was not downloaded intentionally. Judge Martin Nolan applied a non‑custodial option in line with Court of Appeal precedent, imposing a fully suspended sentence on strict conditions. Moran's admission of guilt, lack of previous offences, and mitigating circumstances were considered, and the judge warned that any repeat offence would be treated differently. The sentence reflects the seriousness of possession of child sexual abuse material while recognising the absence of aggravating conduct.
A 41‑year‑old man, Mihail Ciorici, was sentenced to 12 years in prison, with the final year suspended for two years, after pleading guilty to rape and oral rape of a college student in Fermoy, Co. Cork. The victim, who was intoxicated and attempting to hail a taxi, was taken from a car, raped, and left to survive in freezing conditions. She was found the next morning in an abandoned house, critically hypothermic and covered in cuts and bruises. Ciorici had previously been convicted of drunk driving, theft and a Moldovan conviction for assault and false imprisonment. The court noted the victim's lack of a victim impact statement and her desire not to engage further with the case. The sentencing considered his guilty plea and family support, and he was ordered to undergo five years of post‑release supervision. The case was prosecuted by Anne Rowland SC.
A 25‑year‑old man was sentenced to six years' imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for raping a 20‑year‑old woman in Galway in July 2021. The victim, whose identity is protected, gave a victim impact statement in which she blamed herself for being naïve and expressed that she could no longer live independently, having moved back in with her parents. She described how the assault occurred after she invited the man to her home, how he forced her to surrender her phone, and how he later feigned a heart attack. The man, who pleaded not guilty, was convicted by a unanimous jury. He has five prior convictions and a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. The judge set a headline sentence of seven‑and‑a‑half years, reduced to six years after mitigating factors, and ordered post‑release supervision for two years under the Probation Service, with penalties for non‑compliance.
A 16‑year‑old girl was gang‑raped by Patrick Kelly (22) and Joseph Byrne (44) in a Kildare town between March and June 2020. The attacks occurred in a car, Byrne's home, and two fields, with the men alternating vaginal, oral and anal rape. The victim, now 21, gave a victim impact statement via video link, describing the men as "the monsters in her dreams" and detailing the physical and emotional pain she endured. Justice Paul McDermott sentenced Kelly to 13½ years, with the final two years suspended, and Byrne to 15 years, both under strict post‑release supervision and prohibited from contacting the victim. The court noted the repeated, non‑consensual nature of the assaults and the victim's vulnerability. The sentencing reflected the severity of the gang‑rape and the men's disregard for her protests. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court. Joseph Byrne pleaded guilty and was convicted.
A 32‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to raping a woman on 23 August 2020 at his home in County Cork and to possessing child sexual abuse material. The victim, who had met him through social media in May 2020, was present with his young child when the assault occurred. He forced her to kiss, then raped her, covering her mouth and forcing her to masturbate. After the incident he apologized and sent messages to the victim, who later complained to Gardaí. Gardaí found three videos and two images of child abuse material on his phone, which he admitted were sent by a third party. He had no prior convictions. Mr Justice Paul Burns sentenced him to a headline term of seven years for rape, reduced to four and a half years with 12 months suspended, and a concurrent six‑month sentence for possession of child sexual abuse material.
A 23-year-old man from Longford has been sentenced to three years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court following his conviction for the rape and sexual assault of his younger cousins. The defendant was found guilty of orally raping his cousin when she was aged eight or nine, and of sexually assaulting her younger sister when she was between seven and eight years old. The offences occurred between 2016 and 2021, when the defendant was between 14 and 18 years of age. The first victim, now 16, detailed the profound psychological impact of the abuse, including night terrors and anxiety. The second victim, now 12, said she initially remained silent about the assault before coming forward after her sister disclosed her own experience. In sentencing, Mr Justice Paul Burns acknowledged the defendant's age at the time of the offences and reduced the headline sentence accordingly. The final 12 months of the three-year sentence on the rape charge are suspended, subject to probation supervision for three years following release.
The Court of Appeal heard that a 15‑year‑old was convicted of anal rape of a 15‑year‑old girl and sentenced to six months and one week of detention followed by the same period of community supervision. The State argued the sentence was too lenient, citing aggravating factors such as the victim's alcohol consumption, the anal injury sustained and the defendant's intent. The State also challenged the judge's discounts for the defendant's age and for delays in investigation. The defence maintained that the judge's assessment was within the discretion available and that mitigating factors were appropriately considered. The court reserved judgment on the appeal. The case involved the defendant taking the victim to a derelict house, giving her cider, and forcing sexual acts while she repeatedly said "No" and cried. The victim's impact statement described lasting fear and avoidance of leaving home. The unnamed girl pleaded not guilty and was acquitted.
A child-rapist GAA coach has been denied leave by the Supreme Court to appeal against a four-year increase in his sentence for what a judge described as 'unusual, shocking and extremely disturbing' crimes. The man, who cannot be identified to protect the victim's identity, was sentenced in December 2021 to 10.5 years imprisonment with the final 18 months suspended by Mr Justice Michael MacGrath. The accused pleaded guilty to 15 counts with consent to the facts of all the offences being considered as part of the sentencing process. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court, where the man had entered guilty pleas in April 2021 in relation to 15 sample counts including oral rape, attempted anal rape, sexual assault, false imprisonment, assault causing harm and criminal damage. The court heard evidence of further sexual assaults during a trip to London, but these counts were dropped as they had taken place outside the jurisdiction. The offences occurred between 2004 and 2010 at locations including the man's home, a midlands sports grounds and a hotel in Dublin. The accused had been extradited from the US to face the charges. At the Court of Appeal in March, Eilis Brennan SC, for the State, submitted that the original nine-year sentence was too low as the victim had endured a 'continuum' of sexual and physical abuse as well as 'emotional torture' over a six-year period. The Court of Appeal increased the sentence to 14 years and six months with the final 18 months suspended. The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal, noting that the Court of Appeal had conducted a 'thorough examination of the facts' and that there was 'nothing' to suggest that any law was mis-applied in what was a 'difficult case that was sensitively considered'. The matter was adjourned at the appeal stage.
A 40‑year‑old Wicklow man was sentenced to seven years in prison, with the final 12 months suspended, for raping his wife after a child entered the room. The offence occurred while the couple were still living together for their children, despite a broken relationship. The victim was preparing for a bath when the man offered a back rub, refused, and then forced her to strip and raped her. A child witnessed part of the assault. The man denied the rape, claiming it was consensual, and later sent messages acknowledging the act but also demanding the charges be dropped. He maintains his innocence. The judge noted the man's acquired brain injury but found no diminished responsibility. The sentence considered the victim's severe harm, the child's witness, and the man's lack of prior convictions, imposing strict probation conditions upon release.
Gerry Harte, 71, was sentenced to eight years in prison at the Central Criminal Court after pleading guilty on a trial date to 15 counts of indecent assault. The court heard that Harte sexually abused his two younger sisters and younger brother during the 1970s and 1980s at their family home in Castleblayney, Co Monaghan. The victims, who waived anonymity, described growing up in a "house of horrors" and detailed the long-term psychological impact, including PTSD and anxiety. Mr Justice Patrick McGrath noted the offending was of a "gross kind" and marked the serious, persistent nature of the abuse by setting a global headline sentence of 11 years. However, the judge reduced the overall sentence to eight years to account for mitigation, specifically Harte's guilty plea and his lack of previous convictions. Defense counsel Michael O'Higgins SC highlighted Harte's remorse and rehabilitation, while the judge commended the victims for their dignity and courage in coming forward after decades. The matter was concluded with the imposition of this custodial sentence.
The Central Criminal Court sentenced a 54‑year‑old man to ten and a half years' imprisonment for a series of violent offences committed at his family home in County Tipperary. He raped his stepdaughter and forced her to watch while he raped his wife, using an axe during the assault. Earlier that year he was convicted of sexual assault, sexual exploitation of a child, oral rape, assault causing harm and threats to kill against his stepdaughter, and of rape, oral rape, assault causing harm, assault causing serious harm and a threat against his wife. The court noted that both victims were afraid to speak and that the man had threatened to kill the stepdaughter if she disclosed the abuse. He denied the allegations and claimed a conspiracy.
A secondary school teacher from Donegal Town has appealed her conviction for indecently assaulting a 13-year-old male student in 1985. Jacinta McSherry O'Connor, now 64, was found guilty following a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial in October 2023 and sentenced to three years imprisonment on each of two counts, with the final six months suspended. At the Court of Appeal, her legal team contended that the trial judge erred in allowing the jury to hear portions of her garda interview in which she disclosed being a victim of sexual assault herself. The prosecution argued this evidence was relevant to establishing a pattern of grooming behaviour. The court heard that McSherry O'Connor had discussed sexual matters with the boy, who had developed a crush on her, during private tutoring sessions in his home. Judges expressed concern about a teacher sharing such details with a young pupil. Judgment has been reserved.
In a case heard at the Central Criminal Court, a 27‑year‑old man, who was on probation, attacked his former partner in her home shortly after she ended their two‑year relationship. The victim, who was present at home alone after meeting friends, was assaulted inside the house, sustaining bruises on her face, neck, arm, abdomen and back, as well as marks on her leg caused by a knife handle. Her iPhone and a flowerpot were also damaged. The man, who has nine prior convictions, was convicted last July of assault causing harm and criminal damage. He was found not guilty of false imprisonment and production of an article capable of causing serious harm, and the jury could not reach verdicts on rape and threats to kill or cause serious harm. The Director of Public Prosecutions entered nolle prosequi on those two charges, dropping them.
A 26-year-old man, who cannot be named, has appealed his conviction for raping a vulnerable 17-year-old girl at a house party on New Year's Eve 2018. The appellant, a repeat offender, was found guilty by a 10-2 majority verdict of one count of rape and one count of sexual assault. He does not accept the verdict, arguing that the trial judge pressured the jury by suggesting shorter lunch breaks and refusing to inform them of their right to disagree, leaving them in "hurry up mode." Defence counsel also contended the judge erred by failing to recharge the jury on legal principles regarding reasonable doubt after a question about a doctor's report. The State rejected these arguments, noting the judge had emphatically explained the standard of proof. The three-judge Court of Appeal has reserved its judgment on the matter. At sentencing, Ms Justice Karen O'Connor described the man's conduct as predatory, noting he took advantage of the victim's intoxication and vulnerability. She handed him a sentence of eight years and three months, with the final nine months suspended on strict conditions, including 12 months of Probation Service supervision. The man has six previous convictions, including a 2019 guilty plea for sexual assault, which resulted in a five-month prison sentence later reduced on appeal to 120 hours of community service in lieu of a two-month prison term.
John English, 47, of Dublin 2, was sentenced to 18 months in prison, with the final three months suspended for six months, after pleading guilty to brandishing a small knife at a shop worker on South Circular Road. The incident followed English's theft of a Pot Noodle earlier that day, when he was denied service. CCTV footage showed him shouting abuse at the male shop worker while holding the knife, and a female security guard was also engaged. English has about 130 convictions, including a rape conviction from 2004, and most of his offences since 2014 are public order crimes. He is homeless, an alcoholic, and has struggled with drug use. The judge noted his guilty plea, personal circumstances and addiction issues as mitigating factors, but imposed a headline sentence of two years to deter similar conduct. The suspended portion is subject to strict conditions, including supervision by Probation Services.
A 48-year-old Portuguese man has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court following his conviction on charges of rape and coercive control. Sergio Correia of Front Street, Ardara, County Donegal, was found guilty by jury of two counts of anal rape and one count of coercive control. The offences occurred during 2019 against his wife, who waived anonymity to allow his identification. Justice Melanie Greally imposed nine-and-a-half years on each rape count with the final eighteen months suspended, and two-and-a-half years concurrent on the coercive control charge, backdated for time in custody. The judge ordered Correia to engage with probation services, attend domestic abuse and sexual abuse programmes, and participate in addiction counselling and Alcoholics Anonymous. A contact prohibition regarding the victim was also imposed. The court noted mitigating factors including the absence of prior convictions and some evidence of remorse, balanced against the serious nature of the offences and findings regarding his limited insight and moderate reoffending risk in relationships.
A 73‑year‑old man, John Dempsey Senior, was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment, with one year suspended, for repeatedly raping his partner's niece, Lillian Byrne, over an eleven‑year period between 1980 and 1991. Dempsey, who was 33 when the abuse began, groomed Byrne from the age of 12 and abused her throughout her teenage years, claiming to be her boyfriend and telling her they would run away together. Byrne, who was 12 at the time of the first rape, described the abuse as excruciating and said she did not realise it was sexual abuse until later. She made a victim impact statement in 2021, detailing the lasting effects on her life and family. The judge, Mr Justice Paul Burns, noted Dempsey's breach of trust and the repeated nature of the abuse, and set a headline sentence of 14 years, reduced to 10 years, with the final year suspended on strict conditions including probation supervision for three years. The unnamed 73-year-old pleaded guilty.
Two cousins, aged 23 and 20, received suspended sentences after being convicted of sexually assaulting a 15‑year‑old girl in a car in the Midlands on 11 July 2020. The younger cousin, 16 at the time of the offence, was acquitted of an attempted rape charge. Both were 16 and 19 when the assault occurred, after the girl and the younger cousin arranged to meet secretly. The court ordered them to inform their wives, parents and siblings of the crime. The judge, Ms Justice Caroline Biggs, noted the defendants' remorse, their marital status, low cognitive ability of the younger man and the influence of their environment. The younger man was sentenced to 18 months and the older to three years, both suspended in full on conditions including participation in victim‑focused and sexual‑offending courses. The court also praised the victim's resilience and acknowledged her ongoing mental health difficulties. The case was heard in the Central Criminal Court.
Barry McDonagh, a 60‑year‑old from Midleton, Cork, was convicted by a jury of 17 counts of rape and one count of sexual assault against his teenage sister‑in‑law between 1999 and 2000. The victim, aged 15‑16 at the time, waived anonymity and testified that the abuse began when McDonagh kissed her and then digitally penetrated her while she was lying on a couch. Subsequent rapes occurred during a birthday trip and at a B&B. McDonagh maintains his innocence and remains married to the victim's sister, who supported him in court. The judge sentenced him to ten years, suspended a quarter, and back‑dated the term to time already spent in custody, giving a final custodial term of seven‑and‑a‑half years. The victim described the lasting psychological impact and her struggle to pursue her planned career. The case was heard in the Central Criminal Court.
A 16‑year‑old girl told the Central Criminal Court that her 25‑year‑old cousin repeatedly raped her from age seven to ten, saying the abuse "ruined her life before it had started". She described the cousin's early exposure to pornography at 11, which she said gave him a "warped view of sexuality". The girl's victim impact evidence detailed nightmares, anger, pain and a sense that her body was no longer her own. She recalled the first assault in the cousin's bedroom when she was about six and he was 14, and estimated the sexual assaults occurred up to three times a week, roughly 50 times in total. The cousin pleaded guilty to three counts of oral rape, two of anal rape and five counts of sexual assault in County Cork. He has no prior convictions, is diagnosed with Asperger's, and is completing an apprenticeship. The case was adjourned for finalisation on 29 October.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Arslan Cheema, 29, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault committed on April 4, 2021, outside a student accommodation in Dublin city centre. The victim, aged 19, described how Cheema placed his hand on her genitals and attempted to kiss her, causing her to feel "frozen and shook" for about ten seconds. She later suffered a breakdown, required hospital treatment, and was prescribed anti‑depressants and anti‑psychotics. Cheema, who had previously worked for a food delivery service, is now employed as a Bus Eireann Expressway driver and has a young child. The court adjourned the case to November 4 to consider mitigation and to impose a sentence. No prior convictions were noted. The hearing focused on the victim's impact statement and Cheema's admission of guilt.
An abuse survivor, aged 14 at the time, testified that Fergus Delaney, 61, groomed and sexually assaulted her between 2000 and 2001. She described how Delaney, seen as a community pillar, used text messages and gifts to gain her trust, leading her to skip school and develop an eating disorder. The survivor said Delaney's actions had a devastating impact on her life, causing her to leave school and feel controlled. She noted that Delaney had suggested she seduced him in an interview with Gardaí. Delaney pleaded guilty to four charges of sexual assault and was sentenced to five and a half years' imprisonment, with the final six months suspended on strict conditions. The court acknowledged the long‑lasting effects of the grooming and assault on the victim's well‑being.
A 51‑year‑old father was sentenced to 12 years in prison for repeatedly raping and sexually assaulting his daughter between 2010 and 2015. The court heard that the victim, aged 10 to 14 at the time of the abuse, had suffered lasting physical and mental health problems, including complex PTSD, chronic fatigue, anxiety, IBS, headaches, migraines and chest pains. She described the abuse as having "utterly changed" her life and said it would continue to affect her for the rest of her life. The victim's impact statement also criticised the use of her counselling notes in the trial, calling it "surreal" and expressing fear that the notes would be used to portray her as a liar. The judge imposed a headline sentence of 13 years for the rapes and nine years for the sexual assaults, with the sentences running concurrently for a total of 12 years. The unnamed 51-year-old was convicted.
In a Waterford Central Criminal Court trial, a 34‑year‑old man was convicted of 17 counts of sexual assault against his young cousin over a four‑year period from April 2010. The abuse occurred in the family home and a nearby wooden area, with the victim, who was about ten when first abused, living under the care of the defendant's mother. Incidents happened several times a month, usually in the parents' room, and ceased after an alleged apology by the defendant before the victim entered secondary school in 2014, a claim denied by both parties. The victim, now 23, testified that the abuse left her with loneliness, pain and depression. Mr Justice Patrick McGrath, noting the gross breach of trust and the victim's vulnerability, imposed a headline sentence of 12 years, reduced to 11 years with the final year suspended on strict conditions. The judge highlighted the defendant's lack of prior convictions and work record as mitigating factors.
Two brothers were sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for the rape and indecent assault of three young children at their family farm in Co Offaly between 1987 and 1989. Neville Moody, 52, of Kildare Town, was convicted following trial of two counts of raping his niece, Charlotte Moody, and one count of indecently assaulting her brother, Kenneth Moody. Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo sentenced Neville Moody to a consecutive term of nine years, suspending the final year for two years. His brother, Norman Moody, 53, pleaded guilty to three counts of indecently assaulting Charlotte and one count of indecently assaulting a second niece, Annette Moody. The judge sentenced Norman Moody to a consecutive term of four and a half years, suspending the final six months for six months on strict conditions. The complainants, who waived anonymity, described severe long-term trauma. The judge noted that while both men were minors at the time, the abuse was not innocent experimentation. He acknowledged Neville's lack of insight and Norman's genuine remorse. The sentences reflect the serious nature of the offences against children aged between four and a half and eight years old.
The High Court has fixed a trial date of November 19 for a defamation action brought by Cllr Jimmy Guerin against Gemma O'Doherty. Mr Guerin, an independent Fingal County Councillor and brother of the late journalist Veronica Guerin, alleges that Ms O'Doherty defamed him through social media posts and a website video by implying he was a convicted paedophile. Ms O'Doherty, a former Irish Independent journalist, maintains she was referring to her brother, Martin Guerin. In 2019, Martin Guerin pleaded guilty to possession of hundreds of child sexual abuse images and 146 movie files of child pornography, for which he received a two-and-a-half-year suspended prison sentence. During the procedural hearing before Mr Justice Alexander Owens, Ms O'Doherty described the litigation as part of a six-year campaign of harassment. The judge stated he was doing his best to accommodate her schedule but could not create time that did not exist. Ronan Lupton SC, representing Mr Guerin, confirmed the case was ready to proceed. The matter was adjourned to the fixed trial date, where a judge and jury are expected to hear evidence for up to five days.
In a Court of Appeal hearing on 10 October 2024, the appeal of a 59‑year‑old man convicted of 11 offences against his nine‑year‑old daughter was dismissed. The man had been jailed for 14 years after a Central Criminal Court trial in November 2022, where a jury found him guilty of repeated rape, oral rape, sexual assault, false imprisonment, threatening to kill and forcing a child to watch sexual activity. The appeal argued that the trial judge erred by not stopping the trial after the prosecution case, by failing to disclose WhatsApp or Viber communications, by not allowing cross‑examination of the victim's physical examination and by not giving a corroboration warning. Mr Justice John Edwards rejected all these grounds, stating that the trial judge had acted within his discretion and that the evidence presented was sufficient for the jury. The appeal was therefore dismissed, leaving the conviction and 14‑year sentence intact.
In a High Court hearing on 7 October 2024, Mr Justice Paul McDermott sentenced a 17‑year‑old juvenile who had sexually assaulted and defiled a 13‑year‑old girl in a Dublin park. The boy pleaded guilty to one count of defilement of a child under 15 and one of sexual assault. The judge noted the boy's lack of consent, the use of violence, and the coercive element of the assault. He highlighted the boy's mental health diagnosis and lack of prior convictions, and remarked that the boy's prepared statements to Gardaí contained self‑serving lies. The judge advised lawyers to consider Gardaí guidelines for interviewing juveniles. The boy received a 12‑month detention sentence, while the victim, aged 15, delivered a victim impact statement describing the lasting psychological harm and her determination to prevent future victims. The judge praised her courage and noted the impact on her mental health and family.
In a High Court sentencing hearing, a 68‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to 17 counts of sexual assault against a girl aged 12‑14 between 1992 and 1994. The judge praised the survivor for delivering a victim impact statement, noting her courage and the message she sent to other children who lack a voice. The survivor described how the perpetrator touched her breasts, vagina and performed oral sex, often cornering her in his home, in his son's bedroom, and in a car. She said the abuse stole her childhood, innocence, and choice, and caused lasting anxiety, panic attacks, and health problems. She reported the abuse to Gardaí in July 2022 and sought justice for herself and her children. The judge thanked her for her effort and courage, while the defence offered an apology and expressed remorse. The case was adjourned to November for an updated probation report.
A 34-year-old man has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment following his conviction for rape at the Central Criminal Court. Shaun O'Donnell, originally from Leeds in the United Kingdom, was found guilty of one count of rape and one count of sexual assault against a woman at a Donegal residence on 26 March 2021. The offence occurred while the victim slept beside her partner and newborn baby. O'Donnell, who had been staying with the couple, initially climbed into the bed undetected. Upon discovering his identity, the woman left the room. Mr Justice David Keane described the breach of trust as "fundamental" and noted the grave harm caused to the victim. The judge imposed the sentence without suspension, observing that O'Donnell had not accepted the verdicts or expressed remorse. A concurrent sentence of two years and eight months was imposed on the sexual assault charge. The sentences were backdated to February of the previous year when O'Donnell entered custody.
Colin 'Ollie' Murphy, aged 50 and a former 15‑year member of the band Ham Sandwich, was convicted at the Central Criminal Court for raping a woman in her Dublin home in September 2020. The victim, who wished to remain anonymous, described the assault as occurring in her bedroom after a party, with Murphy claiming the encounter was consensual. Murphy denied the allegations, later accepting the jury's verdict and apologising to the victim. Mr Justice David Keane sentenced him to seven years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended on strict conditions, including engagement with relevant services. The sentence was reduced from an initial eight‑year headline, taking into account Murphy's lack of prior convictions, low risk of re‑offending and his expressed remorse. The conviction was back‑dated to 7 March, when Murphy entered custody.
Wayne Higgins, 27, was convicted of raping a woman in Cork city on 28 August 2019. The victim, who was intoxicated, had asked Higgins to escort her to a bus stop after drinking with him. While stopped in a laneway, Higgins raped her in broad daylight. Neighbours shouted at him and threatened to call the Gardaí, but he replied, "It's just sex," and fled. The victim later testified that she could not identify him at the time and that DNA evidence linked him to the assault. Higgins, who had a history of drug, robbery, stalking, harassment and breach of a barring order convictions, was sentenced by Mr Justice Paul Burns to ten years' imprisonment. The final year was suspended for three years on the condition that he engages with the Probation Service and has no contact with the victim. The court noted his moderate risk of re‑offending and his significant alcohol addiction. Wayne Higgins pleaded guilty.
A 50‑year‑old man was sentenced to ten years in prison for raping his step‑daughter, who was 11 at the time of the assaults. He pleaded guilty to two counts of rape, production of child pornography and sending sexually explicit material to a child, all committed in November 2023. The court found evidence of a prolonged grooming campaign that began when the man sent inappropriate text messages to the nine‑year‑old step‑daughter and continued for almost two years, including explicit images and videos of the child. The judge noted the man's lack of insight and the risk of re‑offending, and imposed a suspended year of the sentence on strict conditions, including probation and no further contact with the child. The sentencing was delivered by Mr Justice Paul Burns at the Central Criminal Court. The case was brought by the prosecution team led by Patricia McLaughlin SC.
Tomas Kleinas, 48, of Victorine Abbey, Trim, was sentenced to 13 years in prison with the final two years suspended on strict conditions after pleading guilty to raping a woman on 25 July 2020. The victim, who was holding an eight‑month‑old baby, was tied up, blindfolded and subjected to repeated sexual assault, including forced oral sex and digital penetration, while a 12‑year‑old child was also present. Kleinas threatened to kill the baby and used a knife to threaten the victim's teeth. The assault was alcohol‑related and the victim reported it to the Gardaí the following day, where extensive bruising and a black rope were found. Kleinas had prior minor convictions dating back to 2006 and was deemed unsuitable for probation. The judge noted his lack of remorse and the victim's desire to avoid reliving the events, leading to the suspended portion of the sentence. Kleinas had previously worked in construction and runs a beauty salon.
Tony Guilloteau, aged 32, was extradited from France to Ireland after a campaign of sexual assaults on young women on the Dublin commuter rail and near train stations in 2020. He pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual assault and two counts of offensive sexual behaviour between 13 February and 11 March 2020. The offences included exposing himself to a 17‑year‑old on the Dart, masturbating in front of a 26‑year‑old on a train, and assaulting women aged 21 to 22 at various stations. Guilloteau had previously served an 18‑month community sentence in France for similar offences. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced him to three and a half years' imprisonment, back‑dated to 30 January, after noting the aggravating nature of the five victims and his expressions of remorse. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the impact on the victims and the court's consideration of his guilty plea and personal circumstances.
Thomas Wymbs, a 67-year-old former B&B owner from Sligo, was sentenced today by Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring at the Central Criminal Court. He was found guilty by a jury of one count of raping a female guest between February 22 and 23, 2020. The complainant, a European woman in her 20s, was staying at Wymbs' establishment in Moneygold, Mount Temple, Co Sligo, where he was the sole proprietor. Prosecution evidence indicated that Wymbs invited the victim to join him for a drink; she later woke to find herself in his bedroom where the assault occurred. Wymbs had claimed the act was consensual. In her sentencing remarks, the judge highlighted the fundamental breach of trust, noting that the victim was a paying guest and a stranger in the country, which Wymbs exploited. Although the judge acknowledged Wymbs' work history, health issues, and the fact that this was a single act, she emphasized the seriousness of the crime. Wymbs was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended. The sentence was backdated to July 22, 2024, to account for time already spent in custody. The victim's impact statement detailed ongoing anxiety, panic attacks, and an inability to work resulting from the incident.
Anthony Byrne, 55, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court following his conviction on two counts of raping his stepdaughter, Kim Jordan, in 2002. Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring imposed an 11-year prison term, with the final 18 months suspended. The sentence was backdated to May 15 last year to account for time already spent in custody. Byrne, of Ballyfermot, Dublin 10, was found guilty after a trial in May. The court heard the offences occurred when Ms Jordan was 15, including an incident in Spain on her birthday and a subsequent attack in their family home. Ms Jordan waived her anonymity to allow Byrne to be named. The judge noted aggravating factors, including the rape of a child and the breach of safety in the victim's bedroom. Byrne had claimed the encounters were consensual, describing them as an "affair," a view the judge rejected, citing a lack of remorse and understanding of consent. In a victim impact statement, Ms Jordan stated she felt humiliated by Byrne's trial conduct, which she said portrayed her as a "teenage sexual temptress." The judge acknowledged Byrne had no previous convictions and had worked his whole life. The matter was finalised with the imposition of the custodial sentence.
A man has been sentenced to nine years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for the rape of his then 15-year-old niece in County Roscommon in November 2017. The 50-year-old defendant, who immigrated to Ireland from Central Europe in 2015, was convicted following trial earlier this month. He does not accept the verdict. Gardaí became suspicious after observing the man's car parked in an unlit location and subsequently discovered the assault had occurred. The victim did not initially disclose the incident but made a formal complaint in early 2019 after confiding in a family friend. Mr Justice Tony Hunt imposed a pre-mitigation sentence of 12 years, suspended the final three years, and ordered the defendant to leave the jurisdiction upon release and not return for ten years. He is also prohibited from all contact with the victim and her family. The sentence was backdated to his custody date in May 2023. Breach of these conditions or commission of any future sexual offence will result in activation of the suspended sentence.
Marcus Duggan, aged 53, was convicted of two indecent assault and one rape offences committed between 1983 and 1991. The crimes involved his sister, Yvonne Ratcliffe, who was 12, 15 and 18 at the times of the incidents. In each case, Duggan's friends held her down while he assaulted or raped her. Ratcliffe, who waived anonymity, gave a victim impact statement describing the abuse, shame and isolation she endured. Prosecutor Patricia McLoughlin highlighted the family's poverty, neglect and exposure to pornography. Judge Tony Hunt sentenced Duggan to five years' imprisonment, suspending the final year on strict conditions, and directed that he have no contact with Ratcliffe. The sentence was back‑dated to the date of his custody. No other convictions or prior offences were recorded. Marcus Duggan pleaded not guilty.
The 51‑year‑old Offaly man was sentenced to 21 months' imprisonment for a single count of sexual assault on a teenage girl who was the daughter of his then‑partner. He had previously received a 10‑year sentence for sexually abusing the victim's younger brother between 2015 and 2019. The new sentence is consecutive to the earlier term, with the last nine months suspended on the condition that he engages with the Probation Service for three years and has no contact with the complainant. The court heard the man pleaded guilty to 27 charges against the brother, including oral and anal rape, and that the assault on the girl occurred in 2012‑2014. The victim's impact statement described lasting emotional harm, migraines, poor sleep and a permanent state of exhaustion. The man denied the allegations and claimed the girl was fabricating the story.
Leonard Merdanj, 42, of Westbrook Park, Balbriggan, was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to an additional two‑year prison term for possessing €380,000 worth of cannabis. The sentence runs consecutively to his existing nine‑year term for rape, which is set to expire in June 2028. Merdanj had pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply on 21 April 2017 at the same address. Gardaí searched his home following a confidential tip‑off, finding about 19 kg of cannabis in several locations, some wrapped in blankets. Merdanj admitted the possession during an interview and had previously been convicted twice. Defence counsel argued he was used by a third party to store the drugs because of debt and a drinking problem, and that his only role was to allow the use of his home. He is a father of two and a certificate from Albania confirmed no convictions there.
A former Olympic swimming coach has been convicted and sentenced to ten years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for the rape and sexual assault of a teenage girl over three decades ago. Derry O'Rourke, aged 78, of Virginia Road, Cavan, pleaded not guilty to one count of rape and fifteen counts of indecent assault allegedly committed between October 1989 and June 1990 at a Leinster school. A jury unanimously convicted him of rape and eleven sexual assault charges following a six-day trial. The offences occurred when the victim was aged thirteen to fourteen. Justice Melanie Greally imposed concurrent sentences and described O'Rourke as a serial child abuser, noting aggravating factors including his abuse of authority as swimming coach, grooming behaviour, and the vulnerable age of the victim. O'Rourke has previous convictions dating from 1998 involving multiple victims, all entered through guilty pleas. The victim provided a detailed impact statement during sentencing.
A 59-year-old Meath man was sentenced to 12 years in prison after being convicted of one count of anal rape and 31 counts of sexual assault. The offences, which occurred between June 2005 and March 2013, involved the abuse of his son, who was aged between five and 13 at the time. Following a trial at the Central Criminal Court in April, the defendant was found guilty. Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed a headline sentence of 12 years for the rape charge and concurrent sentences of 10 years for the sexual assault charges. The sentence was backdated to May 1, when the defendant entered custody. The judge declined to suspend any portion of the term, citing the defendant's continued denial of the offences and lack of remorse. He also imposed five years of post-release supervision and ordered that the man have no contact with the victim. The court noted the defendant's low risk of sexual re-offending but moderate risk of general re-offending, while highlighting that his attitude creates its own risk. The judge emphasized that the shame for the offences lies entirely with the offender, not the victim, who stated that the abuse dominated his childhood and teenage years.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 30 July 2024, a 32‑year‑old defendant pleaded guilty to nine counts of sexual assault against his younger brother between 2000 and 2002, when the victim was aged 14‑16 and the defendant 9‑11. The abuse, described as occurring weekly in the family home in Dublin, included mutual masturbation and an incident where the defendant forced the victim to give oral sex. The court heard the brothers grew up in a household of widespread neglect, with their mother later jailed for serious crimes. The victim's impact statement highlighted ongoing depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation stemming from the abuse. The judge, Justice Karen O'Connor, sentenced the defendant to two years' imprisonment, suspending the final four months on conditions, after noting the significant age disparity and the lasting impact on the victim. The defendant had previously admitted the abuse in a family meeting in 2017 and had undergone counselling.
A man has been convicted at the Central Criminal Court of raping and sexually assaulting a schoolgirl in Cavan during the late 1980s. Derry O'Rourke, aged 78, of Virginia Road, Cavan, was found guilty of one count of rape and eleven counts of indecent assault following a six-day trial. The offences occurred between October 1989 and June 1990 when the complainant was aged thirteen to fourteen years old. O'Rourke, a former Olympic swimming coach, had pleaded not guilty to one rape charge and fifteen indecent assault charges. The court heard he singled the girl out during school swimming sessions and subjected her to abuse under the guise of conducting muscle checks in a room adjoining the pool, before raping her in a boiler room in September 1990. At sentencing hearing, the now forty-eight-year-old victim delivered an impact statement describing the "brutalisation" she suffered and its lasting effects on her life. Justice Melanie Greally remanded O'Rourke in custody pending sentencing. The prosecution submitted the case warrants a sentence of between fifteen years and life imprisonment.
In the Munster Abuse case, the Court of Appeal quashed the original 15‑year sentence for the father, who had been convicted of rape, sexual exploitation, sexual assault and child cruelty, and imposed a life sentence. The judge noted the father's position of trust and the egregious nature of his abuse, describing the victims as vulnerable children who were raped, violated and subjected to acts of depravity for his sexual gratification. The mother's original nine‑year term was increased to 12 years, and the uncle's original 15‑year term was reduced to 18½ years after a headline of 20 years was set. The appeal was brought by the Director of Public Prosecutions, who argued the original sentences were unduly lenient given the severity and prolonged nature of the abuse that occurred between August 2014 and April 2016. The court's decision reflects the gravity of the offences and the impact on the children's emotional, physical and psychological well‑being.
Aaron Barwell, aged 29, was sentenced to 20 years in prison, with a two‑year suspended portion, for a series of violent sexual offences committed against three escort victims between January and August 2021. He pleaded guilty to one count of oral rape, one of rape and one of attempted rape. The court described the offences as "abysmal" and noted that Barwell had arranged for each victim to come to his residence, where he used violence, threats and a screwdriver to coerce sexual acts. He also faced a separate charge of possession of cocaine for sale or supply, for which he received a suspended sentence. The judge imposed four years of post‑release supervision, prohibited contact with the victims and required him to commit no further sexual offences. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the crimes and the need for rehabilitation.