In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 20 November 2023, a 68‑year‑old man was sentenced to an additional four years' imprisonment for sexually assaulting a 10‑year‑old girl, the aunt of a previous victim, between 2003 and 2005. The man, who was a distant cousin and lived with the family, had already been serving a seven‑year‑three‑month sentence for the anal rape of the same girl in 2021. He pleaded guilty to the earlier assault, admitting he had laid on top of the child and digitally penetrated her with his fingers. The court noted that the victim had kept the incident to herself until she learned the man was being investigated for raping her niece. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, cited the victim's youth and the man's abuse of his trusted family position as aggravating factors, and imposed the consecutive sentence while acknowledging the defendant's poor health and remorse.
A 26‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for raping a 16‑year‑old girl in the grounds of a GAA club. The conviction followed a trial at the Central Criminal Court in July, where the man had pleaded not guilty to the single count of rape. He was first taken into custody on 17 July 2023, and the sentence was back‑dated to that date. The victim, who was 16 at the time of the offence, was a friend of the man's sibling and had been texting him about cigarettes. After meeting at the club grounds, the man attempted to kiss her, pushed her, and then raped her. He later smoked cannabis before leaving. The court noted the man's age difference, lack of apology, and his prior good character as mitigating factors, while recognising the aggravating factor of the age gap. The victim's impact statement highlighted her long‑term distress and lack of support.
A 25‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to two charges of rape and was sentenced to 11½ years in prison, with five years of post‑release supervision and a prohibition on contacting his former partner. The court considered four additional rape incidents between January and February 2021, all involving the man raping the woman while she was in bed or doing laundry, and the man filming the assaults and sending the videos to friends. The judge noted the man's history of 34 convictions, 11 of which involved the same woman, including assault and coercive control. The victim's impact statement described the attacks as brutal, the woman as vulnerable, and the lasting emotional harm she suffered. The sentence was reduced from a headline 17‑year term due to the man's guilty plea and expression of remorse. The court also ordered the man to remain in prison for any previous Circuit Court offences against the woman.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 16 November 2023, a 33‑year‑old man was sentenced to an additional 13 years for raping his sister and sexually assaulting his niece, offences committed in June 2020. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, described the case as "particularly sad" and noted a probation report indicating a "very worrying disposition" towards women. The man had previously been convicted of possession of child pornography and was serving a seven‑year sentence for false imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. Mr Justice Hunt imposed a headline sentence of 13 years for the rape, reduced by one year to avoid a "crushing length" of total imprisonment, and a concurrent five‑year sentence for the sexual assault. The sentences run consecutively to the existing term, with the final two years of the rape sentence suspended on strict conditions. The unnamed 33-year-old pleaded guilty.
The Court of Appeal has overturned a trial judge's direction to acquit an unnamed 34-year-old man of rape, finding the ruling was wrong in law. The appellant, who pleaded not guilty, was originally charged with one count of rape and two counts of sexual assault, alleging that between January and September 2005, he sexually assaulted his six-year-old cousin in Dublin. At the Central Criminal Court trial in June 2022, Mr Justice David Keane directed the jury to discharge the rape charge, reasoning that the complainant had touched the accused on his invitation, meaning no assault occurred. The State appealed, arguing that any intentional touching without consent constitutes an assault. In its judgment, the Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice John Edwards, stated that a child under the statutory minimum age cannot legally consent to such touching. The court ruled that the invitation itself could constitute force or impact, an issue that should have been left to the jury. Consequently, the appeal was allowed, and the DPP was granted permission for a retrial. The matter was adjourned, with the DPP directed to re-enter the case in the next list to fix dates at the Central Criminal Court on December 6.
A man in his mid‑seventies was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment, with the final six months suspended, for sexually assaulting his 10‑year‑old granddaughter in a Dublin house on 27 December 2016. He pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault. The court noted the offence was aggravated by a significant breach of trust and the age disparity. The judge, Sarah Berkeley, set a headline sentence of two years before reducing it for mitigating factors such as an early guilty plea and remorse. The victim's mother provided a victim impact statement describing the devastating effects on her daughter. The man had no prior convictions and had lost his family and social life. The case was prosecuted by Aoife McNickle, BL, and investigated by Detective Garda David Egan. The accused was arrested in November 2017 and denied the allegations. The court found the offence fell at the lower end of the spectrum for child sexual abuse.
Adam Roche, aged 27, was sentenced to ten and a half years in prison, with an 18‑month suspended portion, for a series of sexual offences committed between August 2015 and January 2018. He used 125,000 messages to pose as victims of online blackmail, threatening a young woman with harm to her pet or the release of intimate images unless she performed non‑consensual sexual acts with him. Roche also threatened to disseminate her photographs and coerced her into sending video proof of sexual acts. He pleaded guilty to rape, anal rape, oral rape, aggravated sexual assault and possession of child pornography. The judge noted the manipulation, the victim's trust in Roche, and the profound impact on her life, and imposed a sentence that reflected the seriousness and repetition of the offences while taking into account his guilty plea and remorse. The woman was ordered to be kept away from Roche and his associates permanently.
The 66‑year‑old patriarch of a Traveller family was sentenced to life imprisonment for a campaign of rape that included the sexual abuse of his granddaughter and nephew, with 24 charges found guilty. He also had a 16‑year sentence for abusing his daughter, who became pregnant with his child at 17. His three sons received sentences of 11 to 16½ years for related offences. The patriarch's 64‑year‑old wife was jailed for two years for assisting a son in an anally raping her granddaughter and for assaulting the same child. The court noted the victims were children at the time of the abuse, which occurred between 1999 and 2005 across various locations. The judge described the man as a "deviant father figure" who ruled his family with an iron fist and showed no remorse. The sentencing was carried out despite the man being admitted to hospital, and he made no reaction to the life sentence.
Former priest Denis Nolan, 71, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court following his guilty plea to one count of oral rape and 36 counts of sexual assault committed between 1994 and 2000. The court found that Nolan abused a victim aged 11 to 17 in Dublin and Wicklow. Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed a five-year sentence for the rape, to run consecutively to Nolan's existing terms, alongside concurrent three-year sentences for the sexual assault counts. Nolan is currently serving a 19-year aggregate sentence for previous convictions, including a 2022 case where the Court of Appeal quashed a suspended portion and substituted a consecutive six-year term. The judge noted Nolan's "predatory" conduct and "egregious betrayal" of trust, while acknowledging his guilty plea and remorse as mitigating factors. Nolan, in custody since 2014, was also directed to undergo five years of post-release supervision. The matter was finalised with the imposition of these additional custodial terms.
A 57‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to nine and a half years in prison after a Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty of five counts of rape of his wife, committed in their family home and a holiday home in 2006 and 2018. He was acquitted of three other rape counts and a ninth count was not agreed upon. The judge described the offences as a fundamental breach of trust and bodily integrity, noting that the rapes occurred while their children were present, sometimes with a baby in the bedroom. The victim, whose identity is protected, said the husband abused her under the "guise of Catholic entitlements," controlling her and denying any wrongdoing. She testified that she had been isolated and felt worthless, and that the abuse escalated when she prioritized their children's needs.
A 25‑year‑old man was sentenced to 10 years in prison for raping and assaulting his 24‑year‑old partner in their shared home in the West of Ireland on 6 October 2021. The court heard that during the attack the man held the woman in a headlock, beat, kicked and kneeled on her, retrieved knives from the kitchen, spat on her after raping her, and forced her to pull down her underwear to "check if she had sex". The woman, who gave a victim impact statement, described the assault as a savage attack that left her with facial injuries and missing hair. She feared for her life and the safety of her young daughter. The judge noted the man's guilty plea and remorse, and imposed a 10‑year sentence, citing the severity of the domestic assault and its impact on the victim's life.
Three brothers aged 39, 40 and 41 were sentenced to 11, 15 and 16½ years for raping and sexually abusing their sister, niece and male cousin between 1999 and 2005. The 41‑year‑old received 15 years for 19 rapes of his sister, four sexual assaults and three oral rapes, plus two anally rapes of his niece and one rape of her. The 39‑year‑old was jailed for 16½ years for 20 rapes of his sister, four sexual assaults, six oral rapes, two anally rapes of his niece and two anally rapes of his male cousin. The 40‑year‑old received 11 years for 20 rapes of his sister, five sexual assaults and three oral rapes. A 64‑year‑old mother was jailed for two years for assisting her son in an anally rape of her granddaughter and for assaulting the same child. The unnamed 41-year-old was found guilty.
A 71‑year‑old Carlow pensioner has lodged an appeal against his conviction for two counts of rape of his niece and multiple counts of indecent assault on other female relatives. The appeal argues that the trial judge erred by refusing to sever the indictment into separate trials for each complainant and by refusing to withdraw the case from the jury after the State's evidence. The appellant contends that the passage of time and the unavailability of witnesses prejudiced his case, as the alleged offences occurred in the 1970s and 1980s and witnesses could only identify limited time periods. He also claims that extensive pre‑trial communication between complainants should have led to severance. The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment, with the Director of Prosecutions defending the judge's decisions and stating the law is well settled. The unnamed 71-year-old pleaded not guilty.
The Court of Appeal has quashed the fully suspended sentence imposed on Brian Haig, finding it unduly lenient. Haig, a 40-year-old from Roscrea, County Tipperary, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault committed on March 10, 2019. The original sentencing judge, Cormac Quinn, had imposed an 18-month suspended sentence at Tipperary Circuit Court in January 2023. The DPP appealed, arguing the headline sentence of two and a half years was too low given aggravating factors, including that the victim was asleep and her clothing was cut off with a sharp blade. The three-judge panel, led by Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, agreed the offending fell within the mid-range of gravity and displayed premeditation. Consequently, the court set a fresh headline sentence of five years, reduced to three and a half years in prison. The final 12 months of this term are suspended for a period of two years. Haig's counsel had argued for leniency based on his guilty plea, a letter of apology, and a probation report noting a difficult background, but the court determined the custody threshold should have been crossed.
Two Limerick brothers, aged 29 and 28, were convicted in November 2021 of raping a 14‑year‑old girl and sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment. The younger brother also received an eight‑year sentence for sexual assault, to run concurrently. Both denied the rape, claiming the girl was 16 and that they were victims. The trial took place at the Central Criminal Court. The appeal, heard by Mr Justice John Edwards, was dismissed. The judge upheld the original convictions, noting that the jury had been properly instructed that questions asked of the accused were not evidence. The appeal argued that a re‑charge was too late and insufficiently specific, but the court found no procedural error. The case remains at the conviction stage, with no change to the sentences or the status of the charges. The unnamed 14-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Brian Shaughnessy, a former hotelier, has failed in his second appeal to overturn his conviction for raping a 17-year-old part-time employee in the presidential suite of the Loughrea Hotel and Spa in July 2010. Shaughnessy was convicted by a jury in March 2013 and sentenced to six years, with one year suspended. His initial appeal was rejected in April 2020, but the case was sent back to the Court of Appeal following a Supreme Court ruling. In his appeal, Shaughnessy claimed that his legal team did not adequately represent him and that a timeline, potentially containing a missing hour and 15 minutes, was not properly addressed in cross-examination. He also alleged that the timeline was only mentioned in a defence speech to the jury. His former legal team denied any claims of incompetence. At the second appeal hearing, Shaughnessy claimed he provided critical documents to his legal team, including key card and phone records, which he said were not used in the trial. However, the Court of Appeal President, Mr Justice George Birmingham, dismissed the appeal, stating that the court was not persuaded that the trial was unfair or that the legal team's performance rendered the conviction unsafe. The court noted that Shaughnessy had not provided a specific account of the time spent in the suite and that the significance of the timeline was diminished due to the lack of a clear alternative explanation. The matter was adjourned and never described as concluded or finalised.
A 27‑year‑old Cork man was jailed for eight years after being convicted of raping his nine‑year‑old cousin twice, once in 2010 and again in 2016, in their grandmother's home. He pleaded not guilty to both counts and continues to deny the offences. The victim, now 23, gave a victim impact statement describing lifelong trauma, loss of friends, and ongoing psychiatric issues. Judge Paul McDermott set a headline sentence of five years for the first rape and 11 years for the second, but imposed a four‑year sentence for the first and a concurrent eight‑year sentence for the second, with no suspended portion and three years of post‑release supervision. The court noted the defendant's age, lack of prior convictions, and multiple neurological diagnoses, including autism spectrum disorder, which may affect his custodial experience. The judge described the damage as "considerable and enduring.".
The Court of Appeal upheld a High Court ruling that a woman who made "very serious false allegations" of rape and abuse against her ex‑husband should pay the majority of the legal costs. The High Court had found the woman's claims were "in all probability" fabricated to paint her former husband in the worst light and to coerce him into capitulating to her demands over property, children and finances. The allegations, denied by the husband, did not withstand scrutiny and there were no child‑welfare concerns. The Court of Appeal, comprising Justices Whelan, Faherty and Binchy, dismissed the woman's appeal, agreeing that the trial judge was correct to find her conduct "gross and obvious" and to impose a costs order. The Court also preliminarily ruled that she should pay the husband's costs in the appeal, giving her 14 days to submit objections.
A 41‑year‑old Dominican Republic national was sentenced to ten and a half years' imprisonment, with an 18‑month suspended portion, for violently sexually assaulting his former sister‑in‑law in her Dublin home on 16 July 2021. The court found that he entered her bedroom at about 2 a.m., subjected her to a five‑hour assault in which he repeatedly penetrated her, threatened to stab her 50 times with a metal turkey baster, and physically choked, pulled, and pushed her. He also took her phone when she tried to call for help. The victim, who was found with bruising and abrasions, later escaped at 7:30 a.m. and was taken to a sexual assault treatment unit. She described lasting panic attacks and a "perpetual state of fear and anxiety." The judge noted the prolonged nature of the offence, the multiplicity of sexual violations, and the threats to kill as aggravating factors. The unnamed 41-year-old pleaded guilty.
In a preliminary application before Mr Justice Mark Sanfey at the High Court, an American woman, referred to as Jane Doe, sought permission to proceed under a pseudonym in a damages action against entities within the AYLO group, formerly MindGeek. The applicant alleges that she was drugged and raped as a minor, with recordings of the abuse subsequently uploaded to adult video sharing sites, including Pornhub, owned by the defendants. She claims these videos were distributed in violation of US laws and seeks parallel proceedings in Ireland, alleging that Irish entities hold substantial assets. The defendants, including AYLO Billing Limited and Mirmay Limited, deny all allegations of wrongdoing. The applicant seeks aggravated and exemplary damages for alleged breaches of duty, GDPR, conspiracy, and privacy rights, along with orders to remove the images, identify uploaders, and preserve Irish assets below US$630m pending the outcome of actions in Ireland and the US. Counsel Jarlath Ryan BL argued that the applicant's safety and life were at risk if her identity were publicized, and that she would face stigmatisation. Mr Justice Sanfey acknowledged the unusual circumstances and the court's inherent jurisdiction to grant anonymity, ruling that the defendants would not be prejudiced. The court granted the order, allowing the applicant to bring her proceedings under the pseudonym Jane Doe.
A woman has brought a High Court challenge against her exclusion from the State compensation scheme for victims of crime. The applicant, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was raped and sexually abused by her father between 1995 and 2002. Her father pleaded guilty to 32 offences at the Central Criminal Court, including rape and sexual assault, and was jailed for eight years in 2018. The Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal denied her claim under a legacy provision that barred compensation where the offender and victim lived in the same household. Although this section was removed in 2021, the Tribunal applied it to her claim lodged under the older scheme. An appeal panel upheld the refusal earlier this year. The woman argues the decision breaches her rights and fails to transpose EU law regarding victim entitlements. She seeks orders quashing the determination and declarations that the scheme is incompatible with EU directives, unconstitutional, and contrary to the European Convention on Human Rights. The matter was heard by Ms Justice Niamh Hyland, who granted permission to bring the challenge on an ex-parte basis. The case is adjourned and will return before the courts in December.
Sean Cole, aged 52, of Donnycarney, Dublin, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for indecent assault and sexual assault of a girl who was a child at the time. The offences occurred between January 1987 and December 1991 when Cole was aged 16 to 20 and the victim was seven years younger. The girl was described as being in a vulnerable situation, with siblings suffering serious illness and parents often in hospital. Cole's conduct involved digitally penetrating the girl and forcing her to masturbate him. The court noted the victim's difficult childhood and the impact of the abuse. Cole had previously been convicted of sexual assault and had left school without exams. Judge Orla Crowe set a headline sentence of ten years, reduced to five years, and suspended the final year on conditions. Sean Cole pleaded guilty.
A 77‑year‑old former school caretaker was sentenced to eight and a half years' imprisonment for raping and sexually abusing his daughter over a seven‑year period from 1991 to 1997. He pleaded guilty to one count of oral rape and three counts of sexual assault, with the victim aged between six and thirteen during the offences. The court described the abuse as the ultimate betrayal of trust and noted the daughter's decision to break her silence as a courageous act. The judge set a headline sentence of 14 years but reduced it to eight and a half years, citing the defendant's guilty plea, remorse, advanced age and medical issues. The defendant had no prior convictions and was married to the victim's mother, who supported him in court. The sentencing took into account the severe impact on the victim's life and her relationship with her mother.
In a case heard in the Central Criminal Court, a 41‑year‑old man was convicted of raping his then‑partner in County Galway on 17 November 2019. The assault occurred while the woman's eight‑month‑old baby slept beside her in the bed. The victim, who suffered significant mental health issues, reported the crime to emergency services after the defendant, who had been drinking vodka, entered the bed and forced himself upon her. Three audio recordings of the incident were presented to the jury. The defendant denied the offence and continued to deny it after conviction. Justice Karen O'Connor sentenced him to six years' imprisonment, noting the victim's vulnerability and the presence of a child as aggravating factors. The case was prosecuted by Gerardine Small, SC, and the defendant's defence counsel highlighted his religious background and language difficulties. The victim's impact statement described the lasting emotional trauma of the night.
A 23‑year‑old man was jailed for four years after pleading guilty to raping a nine‑year‑old relative when he was 13. The Central Criminal Court also handed him a separate three‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for sexually assaulting a different female cousin between 2013 and 2018, when the victim was aged six to 11. Justice Ellen Ring noted that the rape occurred while the teenager was also abusing another relative, citing the victim's age, the age gap, the breach of trust and the predatory nature of the abuse as aggravating factors. She said the defendant was aware his actions were "very wrong" and would have imposed an 11‑year headline sentence if the offender had been an adult, but reduced it to six years because of his age at the time.
Thomas Neville, 59, of Railway Avenue, Inchicore, Dublin 8, was found guilty by a jury of one count of rape, one count of child exploitation and 20 counts of sexual assault against a girl aged 14 to 20 between 2010 and 2020. He was sentenced to eleven and a half years in prison, with a headline sentence of thirteen years reduced for minimal mitigation, and three years of post‑release supervision. Neville, who has 35 prior convictions, denied all allegations. The victim, who was 14 when the abuse began, described the sexual acts, including forced oral sex, forced touching, and the showing of pornography, and stated she still suffers from nightmares and mental health issues. The court heard that Neville had been arrested and interviewed in November 2020 and that the victim's impact statement highlighted her need for justice.
Liviu Tenea, 40, pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated sexual assault after posing as a taxi driver and violently assaulting a woman who had entered his car. The court heard he had previously been sentenced to 20 years in Spain in 2006 for a similar assault, was repatriated to Romania in 2010 and released in 2015. He was arrested in March 2022 and has been in custody since. Justice Mary Ellen Ring imposed a 19‑year sentence, back‑dated to his March 29, 2022 arrest, and ordered 10 years of post‑release supervision. The victim, who wishes to remain anonymous, described being taken to a secluded location, forced onto the bonnet, and subjected to vaginal and anal penetration. The court noted Tenea's prior conviction, his guilty plea, and his willingness to engage in treatment programmes as mitigating factors. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the crime and the victim's impact statement.
A 40‑year‑old man was sentenced to twelve and a half years in prison for repeatedly raping a girl who was a friend of his daughter. The victim, now 17, was first abused when she was seven and was recorded by the offender during the assaults. He threatened to kill her pet dog if she disclosed the abuse. The court found him guilty on 12 counts, including sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, rape, anal rape and oral rape, and not guilty on one count of sexual assault. He continues to deny wrongdoing. The judge imposed concurrent sentences of 13 years, noting the rape offences warranted a headline sentence of 14 years, and suspended the final six months of the 13‑year term on strict conditions. The victim gave a victim impact statement describing ongoing fear, anxiety, depression and PTSD, and the judge praised her dignity and courage. The sentencing hearing took place in the Central Criminal Court. The unnamed 17-year-old was acquitted.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 20 October 2023, a 30‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to five years for reckless endangerment and child cruelty after being accused of raping his partner's toddler. He pleaded guilty to one count of reckless endangerment of the 23‑month‑old girl between 29 March and 5 April 2018, and to two counts of child cruelty towards her and two counts towards her brother on 5 April 2018. The boy was aged two to three at the time. The court accepted the guilty pleas and dismissed the rape and sexual assault charges. The judge noted the children's vulnerability, the serious injuries sustained, and the man's history of offending and substance abuse. The sentence was back‑dated to the man's September 2021 custody entry. The children, now seven and eight, were placed in foster care and are receiving support for their recovery.
Two men from County Longford have appealed their convictions for rape and sexual assault at the Court of Appeal following issues with phone evidence presented at their trial. Karl Reilly of Aghara, Carrickboy was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment with eighteen months suspended for rape; Patrick McLoughlin received five years' imprisonment with eighteen months suspended for sexual assault. Both men had pleaded not guilty to charges relating to an incident in August 2017 at Galway. Their legal representatives argued that an erroneous timestamp on mobile phone records, discovered only after defence cross-examination was completed, prejudiced trial preparation and rendered proceedings unsatisfactory. They also contended that the trial should have been separated, given inconsistencies between the men's accounts to gardaí. The State's counsel submitted that the timing discrepancies were minor and did not alter the intervals between calls or the approximate timeline of events. Justice Patrick McCarthy reserved judgment on the appeals.
A woman has been found guilty of indecently assaulting a 13-year-old boy in the 1980s following a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Jacintha McSherry O'Connor, aged 63, of Donegal Town, was convicted on two counts of indecent assault by majority jury verdict after 11 hours of deliberation. The offences allegedly occurred between June and September 1985 while she worked as a student teacher at a Dublin secondary school. The complainant, now in his fifties, told the court the abuse occurred during tutoring sessions at his home and on a family holiday to Spain. McSherry O'Connor, who had pleaded not guilty, maintained she never engaged in sexual conduct with the boy. Judge Elma Sheahan remanded her on continuing bail pending sentencing on 8 November 2023.
A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court will resume deliberations tomorrow in the trial of a teacher accused of indecently assaulting a male student decades ago. Jacintha McSherry O'Connor, aged 63 and from The Mullins in Donegal Town, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of indecent assault on a child allegedly occurring between June and September 1985. The alleged victim was 13 years old at the time, while Ms McSherry O'Connor was aged 24 or 25 and working as a student teacher at a Dublin school. The prosecution alleges the assaults took place in the boy's home during private tuition sessions. The court also heard evidence regarding alleged sexual contact between the parties during a family holiday in Spain prior to the period covered by the charges. The jury had deliberated for over seven hours when Judge Elma Sheahan adjourned proceedings for the evening.
The trial of four Dublin men accused of raping and sexually assaulting a woman at her home in December 2018 has collapsed at the Central Criminal Court. All charges against the accused were dropped via a nolle prosequi after the complainant, who is undergoing psychiatric treatment, was deemed unable to continue giving evidence. The State's application to allow her to testify via video link was unsuccessful. Mr Justice David Keane addressed the jury, noting the trial did not reach a natural conclusion after three weeks, and exempted them from jury service for 15 years. Reporting restrictions apply to all participants. The first accused, aged 25, had pleaded not guilty to oral rape and sexual assault. The second accused, also 25, pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault. The third accused, aged 23, pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape, one oral rape, and a sexual assault. The fourth accused, aged 24, pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape and sexual assault. The complainant alleged the men entered her home uninvited, forced her into sexual acts, and that one accused recorded the incidents on social media. She stated she was bleeding and sore when the men left. The matter was adjourned and concluded with the dropping of charges, not a conviction.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, the jury has begun deliberations in the trial of a teacher accused of indecently assaulting a male student nearly four decades ago. Jacintha McSherry O'Connor, aged 63, from Donegal Town, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of indecent assault on dates between June and September 1985, when she was a student teacher at a Dublin school and the boy was thirteen years old. The alleged incidents reportedly occurred during private tuition at the boy's home and on a family holiday to Spain. In closing speeches, the prosecution argued the evidence of the complainant, now in his fifties, was reliable and consistent, describing patterns of grooming behaviour. The defence contended there were significant inconsistencies in the complainant's account and that the prosecution had failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt. The jury will continue its deliberations the following day.
In a trial for defilement of a 16‑year‑old girl, the 40‑year‑old defendant pleaded not guilty to three counts of sexual acts with a child under 17 at locations in Dublin between August and December 2010. Prosecuting counsel, Eilis Brennan SC, told the jury that the defendant's account was "unbelievable" and "riddled with inconsistencies". She contrasted the defendant's version with the complainant's, describing the latter as coherent and the former as lacking sense. Brennan highlighted specific discrepancies, such as a claimed lunch meeting in January 2011 that the complainant denied, and the defendant's assertion that he had shown her pictures of his home after discovering she lied about her age. She urged the jury to weigh the credibility of both parties, noting that the defendant had denied all wrongdoing and that consent was not a defence under the legislation. The defence's closing speech was scheduled for the following day.
In a case heard at the Central Criminal Court in Tullamore, a 48‑year‑old man was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment for raping his former partner during a 10‑hour false imprisonment ordeal. The defendant, who was previously convicted of assault and false imprisonment in 2022, was found guilty of rape on 7 August 2018. He had detained the woman in his apartment against her wishes, assaulted her, and forced sexual contact. The court noted the victim's physical and emotional suffering, her fear of leaving the house, and her panic attacks. The judge, citing the man's lack of remorse and prior convictions, imposed a headline sentence of ten years, suspended one year, and ordered two years of post‑release supervision with mandatory sex‑offender treatment. The defendant denied the rape and had not shown remorse or undertaken rehabilitation before sentencing.
Soren Constantin Gavrila, a 42‑year‑old Romanian national, was sentenced to four years and nine months in prison, with the last six months suspended, for raping a sex worker in Dublin on 1 September 2018. Three weeks after arriving in Ireland, Gavrila and two men approached the victim in a car after midnight, offering €50 for oral sex. The victim, who was intoxicated and struggled to understand him, performed oral sex with a condom, but Gavrila removed it and forced her to perform oral sex without a condom. He then pushed her to the ground, raped her, bit her back and arm, and cut her lip. The victim's boyfriend confronted the men, leading to a 999 call and Gavrila's arrest. DNA evidence linked Gavrila to the assault. He pleaded guilty, offered €5,000 as a token of remorse, and the judge noted his apology and prior good character in imposing the sentence.
An Irish celebrity, aged 40, pleaded not guilty to three counts of engaging in sexual acts with a 16‑year‑old girl between August and December 2010. During cross‑examination on 16 October 2023, he agreed that the complainant, who is described as "someone who doesn't have a grudge," had been upset after a meeting at a Spanish festival in 2012. He said he had left his phone at the complainant's house and later sent an apology message. He denied that the alleged sexual acts occurred in the stairwell of his workplace, claiming he used a different staircase, and disputed the complainant's detailed description of the location. He also denied that the restaurant where they supposedly had lunch in January 2011 was open, but admitted they had eaten in the area. The trial is ongoing.
In a Dublin rape trial, a 24‑year‑old woman denies that she invited four men upstairs to have sex with them. She says she invited the first accused to her home on the night of the alleged rape because her mother and sister were not home and she feared being alone. She met the first accused through a friend, had communicated with him before, and had met him previously. When he arrived, three other men were present. She says she asked what they were doing there, and they discussed "weed" and drinks. She moved to the upstairs area because it was warmer. She denies that she invited the men because she had agreed to sex, although she admits she dressed to impress the first accused. The four accused, aged 25, 25, 23 and 24, have all pleaded not guilty to various counts of rape and sexual assault.
A man, who is the husband of the boys' aunt, was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury of raping an eight‑year‑old boy in Dublin between March 1996 and May 1997, and of sexually assaulting and anal raping the boy's younger brother, aged six or seven, between February 2000 and June 2001. The older brother first reported the abuse in 2005 but was told the case could not proceed; the younger brother reported abuse in 2016. The defendant was arrested but made no admissions in subsequent Garda interviews. Ms Justice Caroline Biggs set a headline sentence of ten and a half years but, after considering mitigating circumstances, imposed concurrent terms totalling eight and a half years' imprisonment, effective from June when the defendant entered custody.
Two brothers have been sentenced to a combined seven years imprisonment following their conviction for the sexual abuse of their cousin over a four-year period in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Aidan Gallagher, aged 40, of Westport, County Mayo, received five years with two years post-release supervision after being convicted of six counts of oral rape committed between 1998 and 2003 in sheds near their homes. Thomas Gallagher, aged 38, of County Galway, was sentenced to two years imprisonment after conviction on one rape charge and seven counts of sexual assault at the family's former home in County Leitrim between 1999 and 2003. Mr Justice David Keane reduced Thomas Gallagher's sentence citing his diagnosis with Motor Neuron disease in October 2022 and life expectancy of less than two years, whilst noting that serious offences ordinarily warrant custodial sentences. Both men had denied the allegations. The Central Criminal Court jury, sitting in Carrick-on-Shannon, convicted them in May 2023. The complainant waived anonymity to permit identification of her cousins.
Liam Coughlan, 87, a former Christian Brother, was sentenced to four and a half years' imprisonment for 19 counts of indecent assault on boys at a school in the south east of Ireland between 1974 and 1978. He had previously been convicted of 30 counts of indecent assault on five other boys at the same school and was serving a three‑year, two‑month sentence. The judge noted the abuse caused lasting fear, embarrassment and psychological harm, and that Coughlan's position of authority and religious affiliation intensified the victims' sense of powerlessness. He pleaded guilty in July after earlier trials were scheduled. The sentence will run concurrently with the sentence he is currently serving. Coughlan has serious health problems, including prostate and bone cancer, heart disease and arthritis, which were cited as mitigating factors. The court heard victim impact statements describing anxiety, trust issues, alcohol problems and, for some, PTSD and severe mental health effects.
A man aged 54 from Erry, Clara, County Offaly, has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment following his conviction on charges of sexually abusing a teenage boy over an extended period in the 1990s. Patrick Bardon was convicted by jury at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Longford in June on 11 counts of oral rape committed between October 1992 and March 1994 at his then home in Ferbane, County Offaly. The court heard that Bardon, a former teacher, befriended the boy at a local pitch and putt club before the abuse occurred. Mr Justice David Keane imposed a headline sentence of 12 years, reduced to ten years with the final two years suspended, subject to strict conditions including engagement with the Probation Service and completion of a sexual offender treatment programme. The survivor, now 46, waived anonymity and delivered an impact statement to the court, describing the profound effect the abuse had on his life and his relief at securing justice.
The trial of Jacintha McSherry O'Connor, 63, is ongoing before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The accused, a former student teacher from Donegal Town, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of indecently assaulting a child between June 1 and September 1, 1985. Prosecutors allege the incidents occurred while she gave the then-13-year-old complainant grinds and during a holiday in Spain. In evidence, Ms McSherry O'Connor told gardaí that nothing untoward happened, describing the boy as having a crush on her and viewing him as a little brother. She denied performing oral sex or any sexual contact, suggesting the complainant may have fantasised about her. The complainant, now in his fifties, testified that he was infatuated with her but stated that the alleged abuse started eating away at him over time. He told the court he confided in his girlfriend at age 19 but did not report to gardaí until recently. Under cross-examination, he maintained that the sexual abuse was burnt on his mind, rejecting the defence suggestion that he was not telling the truth. The trial resumes on Monday.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 40‑year‑old Irish celebrity pleaded not guilty to three counts of engaging in sexual acts with a child under 17 between August and December 2010. During cross‑examination, he admitted giving his phone to a 17‑year‑old complainant at the 2010 Oxegen music festival, but denied kissing her or any sexual contact at the festival. He claimed the girl had lied about her age, stating she was 18 when they first met and later 16 before any alleged sexual activity. He said their contact from July 2010 to January 2011 was minimal and that any later sexual relationship occurred after the alleged offences. He also provided eight phones to Gardaí, asserting no overtly sexual messages were found. The trial remains ongoing.
A trial is ongoing before Mr Justice David Keane and a jury of six men and six women regarding allegations that four men raped and sexually assaulted a woman at her home in Dublin between December 8 and 9, 2018. Reporting restrictions apply to the identities of all participants. The complainant, now 24, testified that she was held down on her mother's bed while two men took turns raping her. She stated that neither man wore a condom and that she was subsequently dragged from the bathroom by her hair by the first accused. The court heard that she was examined at the Rotunda Sexual Assault Treatment Unit, where she reported vaginal, oral, and digital penetration. Defence counsel for the first accused, Dominic McGinn SC, argued that any sexual contact was consensual and denied that his client pulled the complainant's hair. The complainant denied these claims, stating she was not making up the events. The first accused, aged 25, has pleaded not guilty to oral rape and sexual assault. The second accused, also aged 25, has pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault. The third accused, aged 23, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape, one oral rape, and sexual assault. The fourth accused, aged 24, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape and sexual assault. The matter is currently at the trial stage and continues.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, a 41‑year‑old man was convicted of sexual assault against his 10‑year‑old daughter, who was in his bed when the alleged offence occurred between 1 January and 30 April 2017. The daughter reported that the man rubbed her front and back and inserted a finger into her vagina while they were in his bed, but she could not say for certain whether he was awake or asleep. The jury found him guilty, and Judge Patricia Ryan sentenced him to three years and four months' imprisonment. The man has now appealed, arguing that the trial judge erred by not directing the jury that the evidence did not establish his intent and by failing to issue a corroboration warning. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham, has reserved judgment on the appeal. The unnamed girl pleaded not guilty.
An unnamed 40‑year‑old Irish celebrity, who has pleaded not guilty to three counts of sexual acts with a child under 17, took the stand at his own trial. He told the jury that the 16‑year‑old complainant was never in his home. The accused said he met her on 14 July 2010 at an Eminem concert during the Oxegen festival, that she had a plastic cup of alcohol, and that they later had lunch together. He claimed she had told him she was 18 by text before the lunch, but later she said she was 17. He denied arranging tickets for a Deadmau5 concert on 14 December 2010 and denied that she was at his house on that date or any other occasion. He also denied any sexual interaction with her on the lunch date or before, and denied using the fire‑escape stairs.
A former English teacher has gone on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court charged with indecently assaulting a pupil during the 1980s. Jacintha McSherry O'Connor, aged 63, of Donegal Town, Co Donegal, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of indecent assault on dates between June and September 1985. The prosecution alleges the offences occurred both during tutoring sessions at the complainant's home and whilst on holiday abroad with his family. The complainant, now 51, testified that he was a young teenager at the time and had not yet reached puberty. He described incidents occurring in a swimming pool and at the accused's apartment during the holiday, and further alleged assaults at his Dublin home following their return. The defence denies all allegations, with counsel suggesting the complainant developed an obsession with the accused and is mistaken about conversations he claims took place. The trial continues before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jury.
In a Dublin Central Criminal Court hearing, a 68‑year‑old man, previously jailed for raping a ten‑year‑old girl in June 2021, was identified as having filmed himself sexually assaulting the same victim in 2016. The video, discovered during routine mobile‑phone analysis, shows the child, then about five, lying on a leather couch while the man's right hand is seen under her trousers. The mother, who described the accused as "the worst of the worst – a wolf in sheep's clothing," read a victim impact statement detailing her daughter's loss of confidence and nightmares. The man, who had pleaded guilty to the 2021 rape, denied creating the video but admitted owning the phone. He faces a separate court appearance next month. The case was adjourned to December 6 for finalisation.