In March 2022 the Court of Appeal upheld a trial judge's decision to direct a jury to acquit a 72‑year‑old man of four historic child sex‑abuse charges. The accused had pleaded not guilty to indecent assault allegations dated between April 1968 and December 1970, involving a complainant aged seven to nine at the time. The complainant first reported the allegations to Gardaí in January 2015. The case was returned to the Bray Circuit Criminal Court in November 2016 and the trial began in March 2019. After a single day, the judge refused the Director of Public Prosecutions an adjournment and, because the chief witness could not attend, directed the jury to acquit the accused of all charges. The Director of Public Prosecutions sought a judicial review, arguing the judge had exceeded his jurisdiction, but the High Court dismissed that claim.
The Court of Appeal heard an appeal from an unnamed 29-year-old man who pleaded not guilty to one count of rape against a 17-year-old female at an address in Midleton, Co Cork, in August 2017. A jury convicted him at the Central Criminal Court in Cork in September 2020, and he was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment, with the final three years suspended, by Mr Justice Alexander Owens. The appellant argued that the trial judge erred in admitting evidence of his Google searches, including terms like 'rape kit accuracy,' and in excessively intervening during his examination. Counsel for the appellant, Siobhan Lankford SC, contended the searches had limited relevance and prejudiced the jury, while also alleging the judge's interruptions created the effect of two prosecutors. The DPP's counsel, Ray Boland SC, countered that the searches indicated the appellant's state of mind and that juries are robust enough to handle judicial interventions. He noted that while the interruptions were more frequent than usual, the trial was not rendered unfair. The three-judge court reserved its judgement on the appeal.
During a trial at the Central Criminal Court, a friend of a woman who claims she was raped by five men in a car in the midlands gave evidence. The witness described the woman as distraught, crying, and traumatised when she returned to her friends on the early hours of 27 December 2016. She was said to have been in shock, with her skirt torn and her clothes not fully on. The friend reported that she repeatedly said there were six men and that she could do nothing. The witness also recounted that the woman had not been drunk and that she was reluctant to go to the Garda station initially, but was eventually taken to the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit in Mullingar. The trial continues before a jury. The unnamed woman pleaded not guilty.
Denise Cribbin, 45, of Stepaside, Co Wicklow, was sentenced to a two‑year wholly suspended term for making a false statement under Section 12(a) of the Criminal Law Act 1976. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing the sentence was too lenient. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice George Birmingham with Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy and Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly, quashed the original sentence and imposed a one‑year custodial term. Cribbin, who had pleaded guilty in July 2020, was told she would be taken into custody to begin her sentence. The offence stemmed from a false allegation of sexual assault made after a single‑car crash on 12 July 2016, involving Cribbin and the injured party. The court noted the statement was false after witness interviews contradicted it. Cribbin will report to Stepaside Garda Station before 5 pm on Friday to be taken into custody.
The Central Criminal Court trial of four men, who have pleaded not guilty to 18 counts of sexual assault, rape, and false imprisonment of a woman on December 27, 2016, continued before Ms Justice Tara Burns. The fifth accused is not before the court. Both the complainant and defendants are entitled to anonymity under the 1981 Rape Act. During cross-examination, the complainant denied that the sexual activity alleged to have occurred in a car and at a remote location was consensual. She rejected suggestions by Colman Cody SC and Hugh Hartnett SC that the atmosphere was jovial or her behavior playful. The complainant alleged she was forced to give and receive oral sex and was raped by each of the five men. She stated that any sexual acts were non-consensual, contradicting assertions by Seamus Clarke SC that his client believed the acts were consensual. The complainant also denied placing herself on a defendant's lap or kissing the driver upon leaving. The trial continues tomorrow.
A 41‑year‑old man from Co Offaly was convicted at the Central Criminal Court of four counts of oral rape of a child between May 1995 and December 1998, when the victim was aged 11 to 14. He was also found guilty of eight counts of sexual assault of the same child and four counts of sexual assault of the victim's older brother, who was aged 12 to 13 in 1995 and 1996. The two boys were placed in foster care with the defendant's family in 1995. The defendant claimed he felt resentful about sharing his home, was bullied at school and identified with the younger boy, grooming him and turning what began as wrestling into sexual acts. The victim reported that the abuse started with kissing and escalated to repeated oral sex, which he described as "consensual" at the time.
A young woman, whose identity is protected under the 1981 Rape Act, testified that five men sexually assaulted and raped her in a car in the midlands. She said she had accepted a lift after a night out, but once inside, two men in the rear began assaulting her. She pushed them away and later sat in the front passenger seat, where she claimed a man raped her while others in the back also touched her again. The woman stated she did not consent and that no one asked if it was acceptable. Four of the five men are before the court, pleading not guilty to 18 counts of sexual assault, rape and false imprisonment, with the fifth not yet in court. The trial is ongoing before Justice Tara Burns and a jury.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 17‑year‑old woman recounted being sexually assaulted and raped by five men after she entered their car on the night of 27 December 2016. She described feeling paralysed and in autopilot as the men forced her into sexual acts, including being taken to a remote area where each man raped her in turn. She attempted to stop them, but they continued, even demanding she engage with all of them simultaneously. The defendants, aged 17 to 19, pleaded not guilty to 18 counts of sexual assault, rape and false imprisonment. The case remains in trial before Justice Tara Burns and a jury, with both parties entitled to anonymity under the 1981 Rape Act.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a friend of a 17‑year‑old girl alleged to have been raped by four men testified that she did not think the girl was in a bad state when they separated. The friend said she and the girl, along with two other women, had gone to a bar at about 10 pm on Stephen's Day 2016, then to a nightclub around 12 am, and that the girl left the club around 2 am when her father arrived. She reported that the girl's phone fell into a toilet but she could not recall any problem with it afterwards. The friend also described a later phone call from the girl, which she could not answer, and a text from another number saying the girl had taken a shared taxi. The friend concluded that if the girl had been drunk she would not have left alone.
Darren Casey, aged 44, was found in possession of 400 child sexual abuse images and five videos on his mobile phone. Gardaí searched his home in November 2020 after being alerted to child abuse material from an IP address linked to his address. The images included 70 child‑explicit pictures, 100 involving child exposure, and the rest in lesser categories. Casey pleaded guilty to one count of possessing the material between 1 August and 1 September 2020. He has 13 prior convictions, including public order and traffic offences. At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to three years, suspending the final two years on conditions. The judge noted Casey's guilty plea, cooperation, and low risk of reoffending, and emphasised that possession of child pornography is not a victimless crime.
A second Munster sexual abuse trial involving an unnamed 12-year-old girl will not proceed after the Director of Public Prosecutions dropped all charges against her eight relatives in the Central Criminal Court. Prosecuting counsel Bernard Condon SC stated, "This is the end of it," confirming the dismissal of cases against the girl's mother, stepfather, step-grandmother, step-grandfather, two aunts, and two uncles. The defendants had previously denied the allegations of sexual abuse and neglect, which were alleged to have occurred between June 2014 and August 2017. This decision follows the January sentencing of five other family members for the abuse of the girl's step-cousins. In that prior proceeding, Mr Justice Paul McDermott jailed the father and mother for 15 and nine years respectively, describing the conduct as the "most awful" sexual abuse and exploitation. Two uncles, aged 49 and 27, received 15-year sentences, while a maternal aunt (35) was jailed for three years for sexually assaulting two children. The DPP has lodged an appeal against the "undue leniency" of the sentences imposed on the father, mother, and the 49-year-old uncle. The current dismissal concludes the legal proceedings for the second group of accused relatives.
Paul Mohan, aged 42, of Grangegeeth, Collon, Co Meath, pleaded guilty to ten counts of raping his youngest sister between 1996 and 2001 and to a sexual assault in 2004. He had previously worked as a photographer and had no prior convictions. The victim, who gave her name, said she had believed the abuse was normal as a child but later recognised it as wrong, describing lasting mental health damage and feelings of being damaged, dirty and worthless. She struggled to disclose the abuse to her husband and family, but now feels able to speak openly. Mr Justice Paul McDermott noted the victim's moving impact statement and that Mohan had been her wedding photographer, making the day "totally ruined." The judge imposed a seven‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for the rape offences, with five years for the sexual assault offences to run concurrently, and suspended the final 18 months on strict conditions, including probation and no contact with the.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 14‑year‑old girl recounted how a rape by two Limerick men in a field in County Clare on 22 April 2017 altered her life. The men, aged 22 and 21 at the time, denied the assault and claimed the victim was 16. The court heard that the girl was heavily intoxicated, had limited memory, and was left alone with the men after her friends dispersed. She described being raped by the 21‑year‑old, then by the 22‑year‑old while the first man masturbated. After the assaults, they walked with her to a residential area where her mother and others found her. The girl later tested negative for pregnancy, but her mother confronted her about the rape. She said rumours and vulgar remarks spread, leading her family to leave the area. The unnamed 14-year-old was convicted.
Four men are currently on trial at the Central Criminal Court, where they have all pleaded not guilty to charges including rape, sexual assault, and false imprisonment. The prosecution alleges that on December 27, 2016, the defendants, aged between 17 and 19, assaulted a 17-year-old complainant at various locations in the midlands. Counsel Lorcan Staines SC told the jury that the men allegedly picked up the complainant, who had a damaged phone, and drove her to a secluded area. The State's case is that the accused raped her "one after another," while others took photos and videos that were posted to Snapchat. It is further alleged that the complainant was falsely imprisoned when she was prevented from leaving the vehicle upon returning to town, where she allegedly suffered further sexual assault. The first accused (22) faces two counts of sexual assault and one count of false imprisonment. The second accused (24) faces two counts of sexual assault, one count of oral rape, and one count of false imprisonment. The third defendant (24) faces an additional count of rape, two counts of sexual assault, and one count of false imprisonment. The fourth accused (23) faces three counts of sexual assault. The first and second accused admit to sexual touching but claim it was consensual. The trial is before Justice Tara Burns and a jury, with proceedings expected to last six weeks.
A 37‑year‑old man was convicted of a campaign of violence and rape against his younger brother between 2001 and 2006. He pleaded not guilty to ten counts of oral rape, seven counts of assault causing harm and one count of intimidation. A jury found him guilty of all assault counts and two of the rape counts. He was sentenced to nine years for the rapes and five years for the assaults, with both sentences running concurrently. He appealed, arguing that the trial judge erred by not directing the jury to acquit on the remaining eight rape counts and by admitting a memorandum of his interview with Gardaí. The appeal contended that Gardaí had induced him to confess during a two‑hour interview, promising release if he cooperated. The court noted that the interview had no break and that the judge's decision to admit the interview was correct. The judgment was reserved.
A Circuit Court judge lifted a gagging order that had prevented the naming of Garda William Ryan, 35, who is charged with false imprisonment and three counts of sexual assault at Aughrim Garda Station on 29 September 2020, and a further charge of false imprisonment on the same date and location. Ryan also faces a charge of offensive sexual conduct between 23 August 2019 and 25 February 2020 at another location in Leinster. The trial is scheduled for 4 June 2024. The order was originally imposed by District Court Judge Treasa Kelly after a defence solicitor's application, and was challenged by lawyers for several media organisations. Judge Melanie Greally, hearing the case, found no evidence that publishing Ryan's name would impair his right to a fair trial and therefore lifted the restrictions.
A man in his fifties, whose identity is withheld for legal reasons, has filed a High Court application to stop a pending trial for indecent assault against his nephew. He denies the charge and argues that the prosecution has been delayed for over 33 years, citing the deaths of potential witnesses who could exonerate him as a reason for an unfair trial. The alleged assault took place at the nephew's home sometime between early 1987 and late 1988, when the accused was in his late teens and the complainant was a primary‑school student. The case was charged last year after the accused had attended a voluntary interview with the Gardai. In his judicial review, the accused seeks orders preventing the trial, declarations that the prosecution breaches his constitutional and European Convention rights, and that it is oppressive and infringes his private life. Mr Justice Charles Meenan granted the lawyers permission to proceed and the matter was adjourned to April.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court acquitted a 60‑year‑old retired Garda of raping his wife in their family home in Leinster in July 2018. The trial lasted five days and the jury, composed of eight men and four women, returned a unanimous not‑guilty verdict after a little over two hours of deliberation. The defendant had been remanded on bail throughout the proceedings. Prosecutor Patrick Gageby SC presented evidence that the couple had married in 2007, that their marriage had become acrimonious and was effectively broken by 2018, with the wife seeking a divorce. The wife alleged that she was subjected to emotional and psychological abuse, while the defendant denied this and claimed he was the victim of abuse. She testified that on the morning of the alleged rape she was lying in bed when the defendant, naked from the waist down, entered the room, claimed to be "furiously horny" and forced himself on her. The unnamed 60-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In a case heard by the Court of Appeal, the appellant argued that the trial judge had exceeded his jurisdiction by directing a jury to acquit a 72‑year‑old man of four historic child sex‑abuse charges. The accused had pleaded not guilty to indecent assault allegations dating from 1968 to 1970. The complainant, a relative of the accused aged seven to nine at the time of the alleged offences, first reported the allegations to the Gardaí in January 2015. The accused was returned to trial in November 2016, but the trial lasted only one day because the judge refused to grant the Director of Public Prosecutions an adjournment. A pre‑trial hearing in March 2016 had informed the court that the complainant could not attend proceedings, and with the chief witness unavailable the judge directed the jury to acquit the accused of all charges the following day.
Paul Mohan, 42, of Grangegeeth, Collon, Co Meath, pleaded guilty to ten counts of raping his youngest sister between 1996 and 2001 and to a sexual assault in 2004. He had previously worked as a photographer and had no prior convictions. The sister, who gave her name, explained that she had initially believed the abuse was normal but later recognised it as wrong, describing severe mental health effects and loss of childhood. She estimated she was abused hundreds of times, beginning in 1990 when she was about six and continuing until she was 15, with a final assault when both were adults. Mohan admitted to the assaults, expressed remorse, and apologized in a letter. He was remanded in custody and sentencing was adjourned to March 1. The court considered his early onset of behaviour and his current maturity level. The sister's family has been supportive, and she is now able to speak openly about the abuse.
A 60‑year‑old retired Garda appeared in the Central Criminal Court on 21 February 2022 to deny a rape charge against his wife. He said he had sought a court safety order against her in September 2018, claiming it was to protect himself and his children, and that the alleged rape in July 2018 was a fabrication. He denied any emotional or psychological abuse, stating he was the one abused, and denied using abusive language. He recounted an incident on 2 September 2018 where his wife struck him with a phone, after which he reported the assault to Gardaí and later obtained a protection order. He denied planning any events after the order and said he feared a rape complaint. The trial is ongoing before Ms Justice Karen O'Connor and a jury. The unnamed 60-year-old pleaded not guilty.
An ex‑soldier, Niall Kennedy, aged 31, was convicted by a jury of 12 counts of rape on eleven occasions in August 2017 and of harassment and threats between February and August 2017. He denied the charges and did not accept the verdicts. Mr Justice Paul Burns sentenced him to 13 years, with 12 years of concurrent sentences and a final two years suspended for five years on strict conditions. Kennedy was ordered to never contact the victim or approach within 200 metres of her location. The court noted Kennedy's lack of remorse, his emotionally illiterate character and above‑average risk of reoffending. The victim, in her early 20s, described a controlling and violent relationship that culminated in repeated rapes and threats, and she expressed fear and trauma following the ordeal. The sentencing hearing highlighted the prolonged cross‑examination of the victim and the complexity of the case.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 60‑year‑old retired Garda pleaded not guilty to a rape charge against his wife, claiming the allegation was a complete fabrication. The trial, conducted by Patrick Gageby SC, presented the defendant's cautioned interview from December 2018, where he alleged constant assault by his wife, including a broken tooth, kicks, spitting, and water thrown at him. He maintained he had never touched her and that she never made a rape claim. He described keeping a packed bag and staying in a box room for the children's sake, asserting he would return if he left. The prosecution's evidence included a family‑law solicitor's notes indicating the wife had discussed emotional abuse and a rape claim in July 2018, and that she sought to use the allegation in family‑law proceedings. The case remains before Ms Justice Karen O'Connor and a jury.
Peter O'Shea, aged 55, was found guilty by a jury in November 2021 of five counts of indecent assault on three children aged between seven and 13 in the early 1980s. He had pleaded not guilty to all charges. The court heard that O'Shea, who was between 14 and 19 at the time of the assaults, still denies the allegations and does not accept the verdict. Garda Niall Gibbs described the assaults, including repeated sexual contact and attempts to expose the victims' genitals. The victims, who were present at the hearing, had prepared impact statements. O'Shea's solicitor, Garnet Orange SC, reiterated his client's denial and lack of prior convictions. Justice Patricia Ryan adjourned sentencing to 1 March 2022.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, lawyers for the national media argued that there was no reason to keep the name of a 35‑year‑old public servant, accused of false imprisonment and sexual assault, from being published. The defendant, who lives in the midlands, was charged with three counts of sexual assault at his workplace in the east of the country on 29 September 2020, a charge of false imprisonment on the same woman at the same place and date, and a charge of offensive sexual conduct at another location in the same county between 23 August 2019 and 25 February last year. The media had previously applied to lift a reporting restriction imposed by Judge Treasa Kelly in October, but the order was upheld. Mr.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, the wife of a 60‑year‑old retired Garda testified that their marriage had become toxic, with frequent fighting and separate sleeping arrangements since 2012. She said they had consensual sex last in April 2018, but the alleged rape occurred in July 2018 when she was lying in bed and the husband, naked from the waist down, forced himself on her. She resisted, told him to leave, and that he threatened her afterward. She claimed the marriage had irreparably broken down by 2018 and that she had sought a divorce. The court heard that weeks later Gardaí served her with a safety order after the husband alleged she had "smacked" him with a phone while drunk. The trial is ongoing before Justice Karen O'Connor and a jury. The unnamed 60-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Edmond Cikalleshi, 49, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for raping a woman he had invited for coffee in a Leinster town on 22 June 2017. He pleaded not guilty to the charge, but the court found that DNA evidence matched his semen to the victim, who had been examined at a sexual assault treatment unit immediately after the assault. Cikalleshi's defence admitted consensual sex but the court held the act was non‑consensual. He has been in custody since August 2019 and will serve the term with a suspended year, subject to strict conditions including probation engagement for three years. The sentence was back‑dated to his initial arrest. The victim's impact statement described profound fear, mental distress, and the lasting effects of the rape on her life and family. The judge noted the severity of the offence and the lack of prior convictions in determining the sentence.
A 53‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to five and a half years' imprisonment for raping and sexually abusing girls in the 1980s. He pleaded guilty to one count of rape and six counts of indecent assault committed between 1980 and 1988 at a Dublin town address. The Central Criminal Court noted the victims were aged between 12 and 20 at the time of the offences and that the man was aged between 12 and 20 when the offending began. Mr Justice Paul McDermott considered the man's borderline intellectual functioning, his age at the time of the offences, the repeated nature of the conduct and his guilty plea. He imposed consecutive terms totalling six and a half years, suspended the final year for three years, and imposed strict conditions including no contact with the victims and no contact with anyone under 18 unless accompanied by an adult.
A 47‑year‑old Limerick man was jailed for three and a half years after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting his sister in an apartment on 26 October 2019. He had been heavily intoxicated, drinking alcohol and smoking a joint, and had called his sister by another woman's name before telling her he would have sex with her. He dragged her to the bedroom, hit her, pulled down his trousers and grabbed her breasts. The attack ended when neighbours heard screams and intervened. The man had three prior convictions and had been in custody for two years on this and other matters. He was sentenced by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, who noted the unexpected, humiliating nature of the assault and the victim's vulnerability. The judge imposed a four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence with the final year suspended for two years, requiring the man to attend rehabilitation, abstain from alcohol and illicit drugs, and receive multi‑agency support.
A woman, aged in her early 20s, described a violent relationship with former soldier Niall Kennedy (31). She met him on Tinder in December 2016 and they began a relationship that involved constant harassment, unwanted contact, and repeated threats to kill her or her friends. Kennedy was convicted in December 2021 of 12 counts of rape on eleven occasions in August 2017, plus multiple counts of harassment and threats. He denied the charges and refused to accept the verdicts. After his conviction, the state objected to his remand on bail, but he was released under strict conditions, including no contact with the victim, sobriety, and a daily curfew. The victim, who was "on high alert" and feared retaliation, gave a victim impact statement describing the abuse, her fear, and her recovery. The court adjourned his sentence hearing to February 21, 2024, and ordered him to be taken into custody.
In 2020 the Central Criminal Court convicted a 60‑year‑old man of 30 counts of sexual assault against 14 girls aged 11 to 17, after he had pleaded guilty in 2002 to ten of those offences and received a nine‑year sentence with two years suspended. The court found that he lured the children into his apartment with money, jewellery and cigarettes before assaulting them. Ms Justice Tara Burns sentenced him to seven years for the additional 20 convictions. The defendant's lawyers appealed, arguing that the announcement of the first Covid lockdown the day before deliberations began, his prior theft convictions in England, missing Facebook messages, delays in prosecution and misdirection of the jury had made the conviction unsafe. The Court of Appeal rejected all grounds, upheld the conviction and affirmed that the jury had not been pressured or misdirected. The judge described the man as a "true predator" who offered a false refuge before assaulting the children.
In the Central Criminal Court, a 21‑year‑old rape victim recounted how, after the assault, she lay in bed picturing ways to end her life. The assault occurred at a house party in May 2017, where the accused, also 21, had arrived after midnight, drank heavily, and entered the victim's bedroom. He removed her underwear, penetrated her, and forced her to roll over, continuing the assault until she managed to get up and leave with her sister. The victim reported the incident to Gardaí on 9 May 2017 and was examined at the Rotunda Hospital. The accused, who has no prior convictions, pleaded not guilty but accepted the jury's verdict. He was sentenced to eight years, with the final year suspended, and must engage with the Probation Service for a year upon release. The judge noted the assault's detrimental impact on the victim's mental well‑being and education.
In a case heard on 7 February 2022, Mr Justice Tony Hunt sentenced a 22‑year‑old man to six years and nine months' imprisonment for raping a sleeping woman. The offence occurred in a friend's flat after a night out; the victim woke to find the accused raping her while another man kissed her and told her it was "OK". The judge noted the prevalence of such cases "defies belief" and highlighted the aggravating factors of the victim's sleep, the presence of a third party, and the impact on the victim. He imposed a conditional suspension of the final 15 months, requiring the offender to comply with Probation Service directions for 12 months and to avoid contact with the victim. The victim's impact statement described profound trauma, PTSD, and loss of relationships, and she expressed fear of public disclosure of the incident. The unnamed man pleaded guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, the Director of Public Prosecutions dropped charges against four extended family members accused of sexually abusing three children in Munster. The accused included the children's 79-year-old grandfather, a 33-year-old uncle, his former partner (37), and a 38-year-old woman. All four had previously pleaded not guilty to sample charges. The grandfather faced three counts of sexually assaulting his granddaughter, one count of sexually exploiting her, and one count of failing to report neglect. The uncle was accused of two counts of sexually assaulting his niece. His former partner faced four counts of sexually assaulting the same girl, two counts of sexually exploiting her, and two counts of failing to report exploitation and child cruelty. The 38-year-old woman was charged with two counts of sexually assaulting two boys and one count of failing to report neglect. These disposals follow last month's sentencing, where the children's father and mother were jailed for 15 and nine years respectively for sexual abuse and wilful neglect. Two uncles, aged 49 and 27, received 15-year sentences, while a maternal aunt (35) was jailed for three years for sexually assaulting two children. Mr Justice Paul McDermott described the parents' actions as a profound breach of trust, noting the children were isolated and subjected to appalling, prolonged abuse.
A 62‑year‑old man was jailed for 12 years after pleading guilty to 15 charges of sexual assault, including oral, anal and vaginal rape, and a single incident of sexual abuse involving a cucumber. The offences occurred between 2018 and 2019 in his Co Kildare home when the victim was aged 13 to 15. He believed the 15‑year‑old girl was his biological daughter, a belief that was disproved by a DNA test after her 2020 birth. The man used emotional manipulation, alcohol and drugs to groom the victim, who had autism. He was ordered to have no contact with the girl or her family, to undergo five years of post‑release supervision, and to never be alone with a child under 18 without supervision. The court noted the victim's strength and the serious harm caused. The sentence was back‑dated to the time of his arrest.
Zara McCabe, 34, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after attacking a homeless man she believed had raped a family member. The assault lasted 30 minutes and McCabe, intoxicated and with poor mental health, claimed she had a blade and hoped to kill the victim. She has 21 prior convictions. The victim was taken to hospital, discharged, and died by suicide a week later. Judge Martin Nolan adjourned the case to assess McCabe for community service. If suitable, he may order 150 hours of community service instead of a two‑year prison term. McCabe's children are in care and she has secured work in a warehouse. The court noted her history of alcohol and addictive problems and her "very unfortunate family life.".
In a Dublin case, Colm Doyle, aged 60, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for sexually abusing his younger adopted sister, Doreen Stamp, over a six‑year period from 1974 to 1979. Doyle began molesting the girl when she was about ten, claiming the abuse was justified because they were not biological siblings and that a priest had told him to practice sex on her. He pleaded guilty to 28 counts of indecent assault and rape, part of an indictment of 103 charges. At sentencing, the judge accepted the victim's impact statement, noting the prolonged nature of the abuse, the victim's young age, and Doyle's role as an older sibling. Doyle was given a 33% reduction for his youth at the time of the offences and a 40% reduction for pleading guilty, resulting in a six‑year custodial term. The court also acknowledged Doyle's remorse and low risk of reoffending.
Twenty‑three character references were presented to a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 28 January 2022, supporting Vincent Williams (41) of Mountain Park, Tallaght, who had been convicted in October 2021 of five counts of sexual assault against three teenage girls. The references described Williams as a dedicated, honest and trustworthy father of five. A probation report was also read, stating he was at low risk of reoffending. Williams continued to deny the offences. The court heard that the victims, aged 12 to 16, were friends of his daughter and that the assaults occurred during sleepovers at his home in late 2012 and on 29 October 2016. The judge, Pauline Codd, noted the breach of trust and the offering of alcohol as aggravating factors, but also considered mitigating factors such as his lack of prior convictions and good work history. Vincent Williams pleaded not guilty.
In a Court of Appeal hearing, the appeal of Eamon Roche, a 31‑year‑old farmer convicted of raping his former girlfriend, was dismissed. Roche had been found guilty of a single count of rape in April 2019 and sentenced to six years' imprisonment. He argued that the trial judge, Mr Justice McDermott, had not properly charged the jury on issues of recklessness and the significance of his post‑incident text messages. The Court of Appeal, led by Ms Justice Patrick McCarthy, held that the trial judge had adequately instructed the jury on the facts, the defendant's conduct, and the relevance of the texts. The appeal was rejected, with the court affirming that no further instruction was required. The decision confirmed the original conviction and sentence.
The Court of Appeal has upheld the 10-year sentence imposed on Thomas Patton (53) for 24 counts of indecent assault of his cousin at an address in Co Donegal between April 1, 1984, and January 1, 1990. Patton had pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court but was found guilty on all counts by a jury in July 2019. He was sentenced to 10 years by Judge Melanie Greally. The appeal against the sentence was dismissed by the Court of Appeal, with Mr Justice George Birmingham stating that the offending was of 'exceptional seriousness' and that consecutive sentences were 'entirely appropriate'. Hugh Hartnett SC, for Patton, argued that the custodial term was 'excessive and disproportionate' and that the sentencing judge failed to consider aspects of rehabilitation. Mr Cooney, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, stated that a higher sentence would still have been within the judge's discretion given the seriousness of the offending. The matter was adjourned at an earlier hearing, but no finalisation was reached in this stage of the appeal.
In January 2022, the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal of John Giltrap, 61, who had been convicted of 20 counts of rape against Caroline Kavanagh, a girl aged between 10 and 15, during 1978‑1982 in Bunclody. Giltrap had originally pleaded not guilty to 22 counts but was found guilty on 20 by a jury at the Central Criminal Court in Kilkenny in December 2020 and sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment on each count, with the terms running concurrently. He argued the verdict was "perverse" and "contrary to the weight of evidence." The appellate judges, led by Mr Justice John Edwards, rejected the appeal, stating there was no evidence of jury speculation. Ms Kavanagh, present in the gallery, expressed relief at the decision, noting that Giltrap's lawyers were considering a further appeal of the sentence length.
In a Court of Appeal hearing on 25 January 2022, the lawyers for Richard O'Mara, aged 33, argued that the 12‑year custodial sentence handed down by Ms Justice Tara Burns for two counts of rape was "very severe". O'Mara had been convicted in April 2019 by a jury at the Central Criminal Court for raping a teenage schoolgirl twice at an 18th birthday party in County Clare. The first assault occurred in a field near the party venue, the second inside the house after guests had left. O'Mara's appeal focuses on the lack of violence or force in the field rape and the absence of mitigating factors, citing his prior good character and lack of previous convictions. The Director of Public Prosecutions maintained that the sentence was appropriate, noting the victim's injuries, the pre‑meditated nature of the first rape, and the violence and humiliation inflicted during both assaults. Richard O'Mara pleaded not guilty.
Padraig Shortt, 42, of Templeogue, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of child pornography on 17 March 2016. He was found with 4,072 images and 200 videos, including 22 videos of sexual abuse and 178 images of exposed genitals. Shortt had no prior convictions. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to three years imprisonment, fully suspended, with strict conditions including compliance with Probation Service directions for two years. The judge noted his memory disturbance, isolated social life after a road‑traffic collision, and that he had begun psychotherapy. Shortt expressed genuine remorse and was described as psychologically vulnerable. Gardaí had seized computers, phones and hard drives during a search of his home, and Shortt admitted accessing the material but denied knowingly distributing it. The case was prosecuted by Fiona McGowan BL.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, Graham Daly, aged 37, was convicted by a jury of seven counts of raping and sexually abusing his younger brother Thomas over a four‑year period from 1998 to 2002. The abuse, which began when Thomas was 10, included inappropriate touching, oral and anal rape, and largely took place in their family home in Limerick. Daly, a teacher from Clonree, Newport, Co. Tipperary, denied the charges and claimed his brother was lying out of jealousy and a desire to destroy his life, citing his brother's sexuality. Thomas, who waived anonymity, testified about the long‑term impact on his life and family, describing the abuse as a secret kept for 18 years. Justice Karen O'Connor sentenced Daly to eight and a half years, treating him as a juvenile because the offences ended when he turned 18, and back‑dated the term to his recent custody.
An elderly retired Catholic priest, aged in his late eighties, has filed a High Court action to stop his trial in the Circuit Criminal Court over allegations of sexually assaulting a boy more than 50 years ago. He claims that dementia and other cognitive difficulties prevent him from receiving a fair trial, as he cannot understand proceedings or give evidence. The priest denies the allegations. A treating physician reports that his condition prevents him from instructing his legal team or understanding the trial. He faces over 40 counts of indecent assault against a young male between 1967 and 1972, alleged to have occurred at various sites in south Dublin, including a room in the priest's residence, a nearby shed and wasteland. The complainant first reported the abuse to Gardai two years ago, and the priest was charged last year. The High Court granted permission to bring the challenge ex‑parte, and the matter was adjourned to a March hearing.
The Central Criminal Court adjourned the sentencing of a 31‑year‑old man convicted of 14 counts of rape, one count of harassment and three counts of threatening to kill or cause serious harm. The defendant, who pleaded not guilty to all charges, could not be named to protect the victim's anonymity. The offences occurred in August 2017 and on Christmas Eve 2016. Defending counsel Desmond Hayes BL informed Judge Paul Burns that the defendant had tested positive for Covid‑19 and was therefore absent. Judge Burns, initially concerned that the defendant might be "playing ducks and drakes," accepted the medical reason and allowed the defendant to remain on bail until February 2 for sentencing. He instructed the Garda to monitor the defendant's compliance with bail conditions, which include no contact with the victim, surrender of his passport, sobriety, and a daily curfew. Antonia Boyle BL, the prosecutor, expressed the complainant's desire for a swift resolution.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Mr Justice Paul McDermott sentenced a Munster family to a combined 24 years for sexual abuse, exploitation and wilful neglect of their children. The 57‑year‑old father received 15 years for 31 offences, including rape of his three eldest children, sexual assault, exploitation and child cruelty. The 34‑year‑old mother was jailed for nine years for 25 offences, including sexual assault, exploitation and neglect. The children's 49‑year‑old uncle was sentenced to 15 years for 10 counts of rape, assault and exploitation. His 35‑year‑old wife received three years for sexually assaulting two children. The 27‑year‑old maternal uncle was jailed for 15 years for eight of nine charges, including rape and exploitation. The judge noted the children suffered enormous pain and that the offenders showed no remorse. The unnamed 49-year-old was found guilty.
In January 2022, Judge Paul McDermott re‑activated 18 months of the five‑year suspended portion of Jason Paget's 15‑year sentence for aggravated burglary and sexual assault committed in 2003. Paget, 34, had been released in 2018 after serving ten years and had returned to the UK. He had failed to comply with Probation Service requirements, citing lack of a UK system and COVID‑related issues. The judge noted Paget's earlier remorse, good behaviour and limited contact with victims, and decided not to re‑activate the full suspended term. The case remains at the stage of a suspended sentence adjustment, with the court acknowledging Paget's partial compliance and the absence of a UK probation arrangement. No further convictions or outcomes are reported in the article. Probation Service pleaded guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 49‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment for sexually abusing his younger sister from 1984 to 1991. The abuse, which began when the sister was about seven or eight and continued until she was 14, included indecent assault, sexual assault, rape, oral rape and anal rape, often occurring in the family home when parents were absent. The victim, now 45, described her brother as a "monster" who threatened to destroy the family if she disclosed the abuse. She said the abuse caused profound loss of confidence, dignity and autonomy, and led to depression, anxiety and PTSD. The judge noted the offender's age at the time of the offences (13‑19) and imposed a nine‑year sentence without suspension, citing his lack of rehabilitation efforts. The victim's husband supported her throughout the proceedings. The offender had no prior convictions and was employed as a painter, decorator and bus driver. The unnamed 49-year-old pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, a father was found guilty of sexually assaulting his nine‑year‑old daughter between January and April 2017, and was sentenced to three years and four months' imprisonment. He has not accepted the verdict and has appealed, arguing that the prosecution's evidence indicated he was asleep when the alleged conduct occurred and that a conversation with his daughter took place the following morning. His lawyers claim that Judge Elma Sheahan failed to direct the jury to consider this evidence, which would have led to a not‑guilty verdict. The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment. The victim, now 13, testified that her father should have protected her and that the assault took away part of her childhood. Judge Sheahan noted the father's regret but said he would not accept a suspended sentence unless he enrolled in a rehabilitation programme, which he declined to do. The unnamed man pleaded not guilty.