In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a Moldovan national, Constantin Cobzac, aged 25, received a two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended sentence for sexually assaulting a woman at a Dublin house on 2 July 2018. The woman, who was in the kitchen when Cobzac attempted to kiss her, repeatedly told him "no" and pushed him away. After her friends left, he followed her to a bedroom, closed the door, lifted her onto the bed, and removed her trousers belt while lying on top of her. The incident lasted up to ten seconds. Cobzac pleaded guilty, admitted he was drunk, and claimed the woman had asked for a hug. He expressed remorse and cooperated with the investigation. Judge Melanie Greally, noting his lack of prior convictions and his cooperation, suspended the sentence on strict conditions, including 12 months of probation supervision and completion of one‑to‑one work to address his offending behaviour.
Slawomir Gierlowski, a 34‑year‑old Polish roofer, was found guilty of sexual assault, attempted rape and assault causing harm for an attack that took place on 18 December 2010. The victim was walking home from a night out when Gierlowski followed her into a courtyard, pushed her to the ground, punched her, choked her, touched her genitals, attempted to rape her but was not erect, and ejaculated on her skirt. DNA from the victim's skirt matched a profile taken from Gierlowski in 2016, linking him to the 2010 incident and to earlier assaults in Clondalkin. A jury of three women and nine men returned unanimous guilty verdicts after just under three hours of deliberation. Gierlowski was remanded in custody pending a sentence hearing on 23 July. The trial also addressed a request to remove his name from the internet, which the judge denied. The case was heard in the Central Criminal Court. Slawomir Gierlowski pleaded not guilty.
During the Central Criminal Court hearing, a copybook found in the home of one of the 14‑year‑old boys accused of murdering 14‑year‑old Anastasia Kriegel was presented. The book, titled "Drawing," contained a "Satanic pledge drawing," pentagrams, and a list of names that included the two accused. Rules in the book forbade speaking of Jesus or God, allowed only pledge hosts to give pledges, and instructed members to act normally. Boy A, also charged with aggravated sexual assault, pleaded not guilty to both counts. Boy B was interviewed by Garda Donal Daly, who explained the book's contents and his reference to a "satanist" homework club. Daly denied that Garda procedures were disingenuous and stated that Boy B was given opportunities to speak truthfully. The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Paul McDermott with a jury of eight men and four women.
In May 2019, Boy B, a 14‑year‑old, told Gardaí that his co‑accused, Boy A, had said he was planning to kill Ana Kriegel, a 14‑year‑old schoolgirl. Boy B claimed he did not believe Boy A was serious and did not know what Boy A intended to do. He also admitted lying to Gardaí about Ana's disappearance because he feared being framed by Boy A. Both boys are minors and have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Ana Kriegel at Glenwood House, Lucan, and Boy A has also pleaded not guilty to an aggravated sexual assault charge. Gardaí have reviewed 16 hours of Boy B's interviews, during which he described seeing Boy A wearing gloves, a mask and other items, and witnessing Boy A "flip" Ana and choke her while removing her clothes.
The jury in the Central Criminal Court trial of a 34‑year‑old Dublin resident accused of attempting to rape a woman on December 18, 2010, will continue deliberating tomorrow. The accused denies the attempted rape, sexual assault and assault causing harm charges. The trial, which lasted eleven days, included evidence that the accused's DNA matched semen found on the complainant's skirt. Defence counsel Orla Crowe SC told the jury that while the prosecution could not prove the woman was attacked, they could not prove the accused was the attacker. She argued the prosecution had failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt and that the jury should not fill gaps with speculation. No fingerprints of the accused were found on seized clothing. Mr Justice Michael White, after 1 hour 40 minutes of deliberations, instructed the jury to suspend and sent them home for the night. The unnamed 34-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In the trial of a 34‑year‑old Dublin resident accused of attempting to rape a woman on December 18, 2010, the jury is set to begin deliberations tomorrow. The accused denies all charges of attempted rape, sexual assault and assault causing harm. Prosecutor Anne Rowland SC presented evidence suggesting the attacker was Polish, citing the complainant's change in demeanor when speaking Polish, a pierced eyebrow, a height of about 6ft, balding, and DNA matching semen found on the woman's skirt. CCTV footage and a co‑worker's testimony about the accused's scooter use were also introduced. Defence counsel Orla Crowe SC argued the prosecution had not proved the case beyond reasonable doubt, noting no fingerprints of the accused on seized clothing and that the client denied the allegations. Mr Justice Michael White announced the charge would commence tomorrow morning.
In 2018, a 74‑year‑old unnamed man was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for 17 counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual assault against his son between 1981 and 1992. The sentence included a final three years and three months suspended, and the man was offered €10,000 restitution, which he accepted. The Court of Appeal, after an appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions, found the original nine‑month jail term "unduly lenient" and increased the custodial period to two years. The appeal court noted that the abuse occurred in various parts of the family home and at the man's workplace, involved masturbation, oral sex, rubbing from the waist down, and an attempted anal penetration that stopped when the victim complained of soreness. The victim, who became depressed at age 21 and was hospitalised, eventually disclosed the abuse to the Gardaí. The unnamed 74-year-old pleaded guilty.
In a 2019 case, a 41‑year‑old Wicklow man was convicted of repeated sexual attacks on a victim who was nine when the first assault occurred. The man pleaded not guilty to four counts of rape and two counts of indecent assault between 1987 and 1989, and was sentenced to seven years. During the trial, Mr Justice Michael White ordered that the identities of both parties remain unpublished, a request made by the Director of Public Prosecutions. The 1981 Rape Act prohibits publishing the identity of a man accused of rape until conviction and also protects the complainant's anonymity. After the conviction, the victim asked a reporter to name the offender, prompting the State to bring the matter back to court.
During the Central Criminal Court hearing, Boy B, a 14‑year‑old, told Gardaí that he witnessed his co‑accused, Boy A, raping Ana Kriegel, the 14‑year‑old schoolgirl who was murdered. Boy B said he fled when he realised what was happening. Both boys, who are minors, have pleaded not guilty to the murder. Boy A is also charged with aggravated sexual assault involving serious violence. The jury, composed of eight men and four women, has been viewing video footage of Boy B's interviews from July 2018. In the second interview, Boy B described entering the abandoned house, observing the interior, and then seeing Boy A and Ana in a room where Boy A allegedly choked Ana while removing her clothing. Boy B claimed he ran away after witnessing the assault. The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Paul McDermott.
A 26‑year‑old man was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for raping a 19‑year‑old woman in County Limerick in November 2015. He pleaded guilty to one count of rape, intimidation of a witness and an attempt to pervert the court. The victim had been invited to the defendant's house under the pretense of a party; when she arrived alone, he raped her. Two weeks later, the defendant sent a series of threatening Facebook messages from a fake profile to the victim's sister, urging her to drop the charges. The messages included threats such as "Tell your sis she dead" and "You'll be getting killed." The victim's impact statement described lasting fear, loss of trust and sleeplessness. The judge noted the defendant's low IQ and early guilty plea as mitigating factors, but considered the intimidation an aggravating factor. The sentence was imposed with conditions preventing contact with the victim or her family.
In a Dublin Central Criminal Court hearing, a 34‑year‑old man was accused of attempting to rape a woman on 18 December 2010. He pleaded not guilty to attempted rape, sexual assault and assault causing harm. Forensic scientist Dr Yvonne O'Dowd testified that semen stains were found on the complainant's skirt and that a DNA profile generated from those stains matched the accused's DNA. She noted the probability of a random match was less than one in a thousand million, but she could not determine when the semen was deposited. Garda Eoin Colbert provided photographs of the defendant in custody, and another Garda reported that the accused said "It's all lies" after his arrest. The trial was set to continue next week before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury.
A man who began raping his daughter when she was nine years old later claimed to gardai that the child had initiated the sex. The unnamed father, a Dublin resident originally from Nigeria, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to nine counts of rape committed between October 2011 and April 2017. In a victim impact statement read in court, the 14‑year‑old victim said she was controlled and too scared to report the attacks, and that she did not understand sex was wrong until she was older. She described the rapes as occurring twice a week until she was 14, saying she was used to it and that it was part of her week. She said her father was controlling, the boss of the house, and threatened her when she tried to refuse or report. The father told gardai that his daughter had initiated the sexual activity by tickling him and that he did not enjoy it.
In the Central Criminal Court, a 14‑year‑old boy (Boy B) testified that he witnessed his co‑accused (Boy A) assaulting Ana Kriegel at an abandoned house. Boy B described seeing Boy A "flip" Ana, choke her, and strip her of her clothes while Ana repeatedly cried "No, no, don't do this." He claimed he fled the scene after seeing Boy A's actions. Boy B drew a picture of the incident and signed it for detectives. The boy, who was arrested in May 2018, gave a changing account of the events, stating he had initially followed the pair but left when Boy A told him it was fine. The testimony was presented to a jury of eight men and four women, with the trial proceeding before Mr Justice Paul McDermott. The accused boys, both 14, have pleaded not guilty to murder and to aggravated sexual assault. The case remains in progress.
A man has been sentenced to nine years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for sexually abusing two teenage girls over an extended period. The 35-year-old defendant, who lived at various locations in County Mayo during the offences, pleaded guilty to multiple counts of defilement and assault. The abuse occurred between 2011 and 2013, when he was in his late twenties. He manipulated and controlled both victims, isolating them from family and friends, and introduced them to heroin. He also removed a contraceptive implant from one girl's arm using a Stanley knife. Justice Michael White described the case as particularly disturbing, noting the defendant was twice the victims' age. The judge imposed an eleven-year sentence with the final two years suspended, conditional on the defendant undergoing assessment for a sex offenders treatment programme. Both victims provided impact statements, describing the profound harm caused. The defendant was returned to Ireland on a European Arrest Warrant from the United Kingdom.
Anthony Goodman, 74, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to exposure at McGovern's Restaurant in Malahide on 13 August 2018 and to exposure on the 46a bus at Donnybrook Fair and sexual assault on Stillorgan Road on 20 August 2018. Garda Rosemary Gallagher described how Goodman sat near two women at the restaurant, squirmed and moved his hands on his crotch for 30‑40 minutes, leaving after leaving a wet stain on his t‑shirt. A week later, Garda Danielle Cassidy reported that on the 46a bus he masturbated while facing a woman, touched her knee, tickled her side, and later touched a woman's breast. Goodman has 201 previous convictions, including sexual assault, indecency, arson, threats to kill and firearms possession, and breached a sex offender order that prohibited bus travel without Gardaí notification. Judge Melanie Greally ordered a probation report and adjourned the case to 11 October.
An African man aged 54 was sentenced to 13 years' imprisonment for raping and sexually abusing the intellectually disabled daughter of his former partner. The victim, aged 11 to 12 at the time of the offences, was raped and subjected to anal rape and sexual assault at the defendant's Dublin home between April 2015 and September 2016. The trial heard that the man had watched television with the child, pulled her trousers down, raped her and repeatedly told her "I love you". The mother of the child, who had been a reluctant witness, expressed a wish that the accused not go to prison and declined to submit a victim impact statement. The judge noted the defendant's lack of remorse, the vulnerability of the victim, the gross abuse of trust and the high risk of re‑offending. The unnamed 54-year-old was convicted.
A 65‑year‑old man accused of indecent assault on a younger female relative has applied to the High Court to halt his trial in the Circuit Criminal Court. He faces more than a dozen counts of indecent assault alleged to have occurred in the 1970s and 1980s when the complainant was a child relative. The man argues he cannot obtain a fair trial because his lawyers have not been provided with certain information he claims is essential to his defence. This information concerns allegations the complainant has made about other persons she says sexually abused her, but she has refused to name those persons or give details. He also cites the lengthy delay since the complainant's 2016 statement to the Gardai. The man denies the accusations, has no prior convictions, and claims the complainant suffers from psychiatric illnesses. In a judicial review action, he seeks an order preventing further prosecution.
Bernard Ward, 71, a former meditation teacher at the Transcendental Meditation Centre in Dublin, was jailed for three years for sexual assaults on a child during the 1970s. The victim, a ten‑year‑old who attended the centre on weekends, was abused in a shower room while Ward was teaching. Ward pleaded not guilty to three counts of indecent assault between 1 January 1974 and 31 December 1977, but was convicted by a majority verdict. He was acquitted of a separate indecent assault charge at another location in Dublin city centre. Judge Elma Sheahan imposed consecutive sentences totalling three and a half years, suspending the last six months, citing Ward's lack of remorse and the abuse of trust inherent in his teaching role. Ward has no prior convictions, is married with three adult children, and suffers from medical ailments. The victim's impact statement highlighted the lasting harm caused by the abuse. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Mansoor Uddin, a 41‑year‑old taxi driver from Castleway, Adamstown, Lucan, pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual assault committed in January and February 2016. He was sentenced by Judge Sinéad Ní Chulacháin to three years' imprisonment for each count, with the last two sentences running concurrently but consecutive to the first. The final year of the two later sentences was suspended for two years under strict conditions, giving an effective custodial term of six years with one year suspended. Uddin was credited for time already spent in custody. The court heard that he sexually assaulted three young women, all under 21, during two weeks, using his position as a taxi driver to exploit their vulnerability.
The Central Criminal Court will continue the trial of a 34‑year‑old Dublin man accused of attempting to rape a woman on December 18, 2010. He has pleaded not guilty to attempted rape, sexual assault and assault causing harm. The case proceeds before Mr Justice Micheal White, with a jury of three women and nine men scheduled to hear evidence on Wednesday.
Eamon Roche, 28, of Ballymorrough, was sentenced to six years in prison for raping his ex‑girlfriend after a high‑speed chase with Gardaí. Roche texted the victim hours after the rape, saying, "Sorry for being a bollocks." He denied the rape charge in a rural Cork court on 21 March 2015. The victim, who was in Roche's car, described a chase where Roche drove at "crazy, ridiculous" speeds, refusing to stop for a patrol. She was forced to climb onto a lay‑by, where Roche climbed on top of her and raped her. The case had gone to trial three times; a jury found him guilty. The judge set a headline sentence of seven years, reduced to six because of mitigating letters, and imposed no suspended portion. Roche was ordered never to contact the complainant and to remain under probation supervision for two years upon release.
A Dublin man was sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment for repeatedly sexually abusing his four‑year‑old niece between 1982 and 1988. The abuse involved the man dressing as the child's mother or pretending to be a baby, and he would assault the child while naked, using a doll or a baby's back. He also used a poker and a fire‑tongs in later attacks, and once raped the child in a shed. The victim, aged 11 when the abuse ended, suffered an eating disorder and attempted suicide at 15. The court noted the offender's increasing moral culpability as he aged. Judge Karen O'Connor imposed an 11‑year sentence, suspending the final year for two years on conditions including probation, sex‑offender treatment and addiction counselling. The offender was required to keep the peace and engage with the Probation Service. The victim's impact statement highlighted the lasting psychological harm and her determination to survive. The unnamed man pleaded guilty.
A Dublin man, now 52, was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment after a jury convicted him of 56 charges of sexual assault against his cousin, a toddler aged two and a half to five, between January 1982 and August 1986. The assaults involved forcing his penis into the child's mouth while she was placed on a toilet seat, and the man was under 18 for most of the incidents. He denies the offences. The victim, who could not be named, gave a victim impact statement describing lifelong terror, a loss of the ability to love, and an attempt to kill herself at 15. She was shocked by the accused's denial at the trial. The judge, Patricia Ryan, considered the severity of the abuse, the age gap, the prolonged period of offending, and the victim's suffering, while noting the accused's prior good character, employment, voluntary work and family hardship, before imposing the ten‑year sentence.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 34‑year‑old Dublin resident denied attempting to rape a woman on 18 December 2010 in Dublin city centre. The trial, before Mr Justice Micheal White and a jury of twelve, included evidence that CCTV footage from the area had been seized, downloaded and preserved by Garda witnesses. The accused pleaded not guilty to attempted rape, sexual assault and assault causing harm, and neither he nor the complainant were identified during the proceedings.
In a trial before the Central Criminal Court, two 14‑year‑old boys accused of murdering 14‑year‑old Anastasia Kriegel were examined. Data from Boy A's i‑Phone 6 was presented, showing a search for "abandoned places in Lucan" and a video titled "15 most gruesome torture methods in history." The court heard that Boy A claimed his co‑accused was lying after a statement from Boy B was read to him. Boy A also faces a charge of aggravated sexual assault involving serious violence. Both boys pleaded not guilty. The proceedings are being heard by Justice Paul McDermott with a jury of eight men and four women. The case remains ongoing.
In the Central Criminal Court, two 14‑year‑old boys are charged with the murder of 14‑year‑old Ana Kriegel. Boy A, who is also charged with aggravated sexual assault, was questioned by Garda officers after they told him Ana's blood was found on his boots. He replied, "are you joking me?" and asked if they were serious. The court heard that Garda officers had shown him CCTV footage, discussed the definition of murder, and explained the difference between truth and lies. Boy A denied being in the room where Ana was assaulted and said he was not with her in the lead‑up to her disappearance. He also denied that the male in the footage was him. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott with a jury of eight men and four women. The unnamed 14-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 34‑year‑old Dublin woman testified that on 18 December 2010 a man held her hands around her throat while attacking her outside her apartment block. She described arriving after a night out, opening the security gate, and being followed into the courtyard. The man grabbed her from behind, pushed her to the ground, and choked her. She tried to scream but he kept his hand around her throat, punched her repeatedly, and shouted "shut up." She reported pain on the side of her face from the punches and that he ripped her tights, pulled her underwear down, and touched her genital area. She claimed he attempted to rape her but could not, and that he masturbated and ejaculated on her skirt while still choking her. The accused pleaded not guilty to attempted rape, sexual assault and assault causing harm. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Micheal White and a jury.
A 34‑year‑old Dublin man was tried at the Central Criminal Court for attempting to rape a woman on the night of 18 December 2010. The alleged victim, a Polish native who had lived in Dublin for many years, was returning home after a night out and was opening the security gate to her apartment block when the accused approached from behind. He allegedly knocked her to the ground, choked her, punched her twice in the face, and told her to shut up. The prosecution claimed he sexually assaulted her, attempted rape, and masturbated, causing her skirt to become wet. DNA evidence from the victim's clothing matched a profile taken from the accused in 2016. The accused pleaded not guilty to attempted rape, sexual assault and assault causing harm. The trial proceeded before Mr Justice Micheal White and a jury of twelve.
Patrick Nevin, 37, will be sentenced next month after a Probation report is completed. He attacked three women in eleven days after meeting them on Tinder. Nevin met the first victim at her home, drove to a secluded spot in north Dublin, and after kissing her, forced sex when she refused. He verbally abused her and threatened her. The second victim, raped in Bellewstown, Co Meath, described terror and fear of being killed. Nevin pleaded guilty in July 2018 to rape and sexual assault. He is already serving a five‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for a 2014 sexual assault of another Tinder‑met woman, which he denies. The court noted his guilty pleas and apologies, and he remains in custody awaiting final sentencing by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon on 24 June. The case highlights the pattern of Tinder‑based attacks and the court's consideration of mitigation based on his pleas.
In 1979, Dan Flynn, then 36, raped a six‑year‑old girl in his home in County Tipperary. The victim, now a married mother, described the assault as brutal, noting Flynn's forceful entry of his penis into her mouth and vagina, spitting into her face, and stepping over her as she lay on the ground. She recalled being terrified and feeling that Flynn treated her as nothing. Flynn pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court. Judge Michael White set a headline sentence of nine years, then imposed six years with four years suspended, citing Flynn's lack of prior convictions, his guilty plea, and his serious health problems, including Parkinson's disease. The sentence was adjourned until 19 June to allow prison authorities to assess a suitable facility for Flynn. The court praised the victim's courage for coming forward. The judge noted the cruelty of the offence and the difficulty of imagining the brutality involved.
In 2018, Darragh Meehan, then 19, was sentenced to six‑and‑a‑half years for online sexual exploitation and defilement of a 13‑year‑old girl. He met her via Skype, Facebook and text, exposed himself, urged her to masturbate and performed sexual acts when they met. The victim's mother reported the messages to Gardaí. Meehan pleaded guilty to one count of defilement and three counts of sexual exploitation between December 2011 and May 2012, with no prior convictions. On appeal, the Court of Appeal found the original nine‑year headline sentence too high, reducing it to seven‑and‑a‑half years, then to five years imprisonment, taking into account Meehan's good character and lack of prior Garda attention. The final year was suspended, conditional on Meehan's submission to Probation Service supervision for one year after release.
In 2017, Keith Hearne, aged 30, was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment for raping Dominique Meehan at a gaming convention in Blanchardstown. He pleaded guilty to two counts of rape, one of oral rape and one of false imprisonment. Hearne's appeal argued that his psychiatric illnesses should have reduced the sentence, but the Court of Appeal found he had no active symptoms at the time of the offence and therefore his mental state did not affect culpability. The court upheld the 12‑year term, noting the severity of the violent, premeditated attack and the presence of weapons and sadomasochistic items in his rucksack. The appeal was dismissed, and Meehan expressed relief that the sentence was maintained, though she remains affected by the assault.
In March 2019, Joseph McGrane, a 59‑year‑old Dublin fruit and veg wholesaler, was convicted by a jury of 11 counts of indecent assault and seven counts of sexual assault against three boys and a young woman, committed between 1985 and 1993. The court, hearing that McGrane abused his employer position and used alcohol to facilitate the offences, sentenced him to 13 years in prison, with the final year suspended. Judge Elma Sheahan set headline sentences of eight and six years for the first two victims and four years each for the other complainants, citing the seriousness and intensity of the abuse. McGrane had no prior convictions, had worked as a productive member of society, and was now on the Sex Offenders' Register. The sentence was back‑dated to 22 March, the day he entered custody.
Gheorghe Goidan, 46, was convicted of raping two Czech women who were working as prostitutes in Ireland. He had contacted them through the website "escortsireland.ie" and met each separately in hotel rooms. In each encounter he pulled a knife, threatened the women, and then sexually assaulted and raped them. Goidan had previously pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault at a hotel in Portlaoise on 7 September 2017, and had denied rape, oral rape and anal rape of a second woman at the Maldron Hotel in Galway on the same day. A jury at the Central Criminal Court found him guilty on all counts, including robbery. The trial revealed that the women had not known one another and had booked themselves into the hotel rooms via the website. Goidan's actions were traced through CCTV footage and the vehicle he used was linked to him.
During the Central Criminal Court trial, two 14‑year‑old boys, Boy A and Boy B, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 14‑year‑old Anastasia Kriegel. Boy B told a garda that he arranged to meet Ana in a park because he "didn't want to be seen with her" and that Ana was wearing a "slutty top" when he brought her to the park to meet Boy A. Boy A, who is also charged with aggravated sexual assault, claimed he met Ana the previous Monday in a park and that after leaving her he was assaulted by two men. He described being knocked to the ground, kicked, and having his arms stomped on, and that Ana had "brushed him in the chest area." The trial will continue next week before Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of eight men and four women.
Alan Hanley, the appellant, was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment by Mr Justice Alex Owens at the Central Criminal Court following a third trial. Hanley had pleaded not guilty to three counts of rape alleged to have occurred at a house in Limerick city on the night of May 4/5, 2012. He had previously admitted assaulting the victim causing her harm on the same occasion. A jury returned a majority verdict of guilty on one count of rape but failed to agree on the other two counts, on which the State entered nolle prosequi. This follows a successful appeal last year where the Court of Appeal quashed his previous 12-and-a-half-year sentence, imposed in 2015 by Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy, due to the trial judge's failure to provide a corroboration warning. The current sentence was backdated to May 5, 2012. Mr Justice Owens ordered that Hanley complete a sex offenders course if deemed suitable, be under Probation Service supervision for six years post-release, and make no attempt to contact the victim or her family. Hanley verbally refused to comply with the course order in court. The judge cited aggravating factors including home invasion, prolonged violence, and lack of remorse.
Schoolgirl Anastasia Kriegel, 14, was found dead at Glenwood House in Lucan on 14 May 2018. The body lay on her back with a blue tape noose around her neck, which she appeared to be pulling away. The tape, identified as Tescon insulation tape, was wrapped once around her neck and knotted. Blood‑stained timber, a concrete block, and various clothing items were recovered from the scene, including a black hoodie, leggings, and boots. The accused, two 14‑year‑olds, pleaded not guilty to murder and to an aggravated sexual assault charge. The jury viewed the scene, a 3‑D reconstruction, and forensic evidence, while the trial proceeded before Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of eight men and four women. The case remains at the Central Criminal Court stage.
Mansoor Uddin, a 41‑year‑old taxi driver from Castleway, Adamstown, Lucan, pleaded guilty in February 2019 to sexual assault on three young women who had ridden in his taxi between January and February 2016. The court heard that a psychological report required for his bail conditions had not been completed, leading to a second adjournment. Uddin's licence was revoked after his guilty plea, and he was not permitted to work as a taxi driver since November of the previous year. His bail conditions included a curfew and a rule that any single passenger must sit in the back of the vehicle. The judge remanded him on continuing bail until 20 May to allow for the psychological assessment. The case remains at the hearing stage, with no sentencing or further legal outcome reported in the article.
During the trial, one of the two 14‑year‑old boys who denies murdering schoolgirl Anastasia Kriegel told a Garda that he believed the injuries the other accused claimed were inflicted by older boys were actually caused by Ana. The court heard that the boy, while giving DNA swabs, said Ana had put her hand across his shoulder and chest and that this might be helpful. Both boys, whose names cannot be disclosed because they are minors, pleaded not guilty to murder and to the aggravated sexual assault charge. The prosecution presented evidence that the boys were seen with Ana on the day she went missing and that one boy was beaten by two older youths in a local park. The trial continues before a jury and a judge.
A 43-year-old man has been jailed for three years for the repeated rape of his sister in the early 1990s. The man, who cannot be named to protect his sister's anonymity, was around 16 at the time of the offences and was in charge of babysitting his younger sister, then aged 10 or 11. At a trial at the Central Criminal Court in March, the man denied four charges of anal rape, one of oral rape, and one of sexual assault at the family home on dates between May 1991 and June 1993. He was convicted on all charges by unanimous verdict of the jury. Michael O'Higgins SC, defending, stated that the man accepted the jury's verdict but made no admissions to the crimes. The court heard that the victim secretly recorded a family meeting at which she confronted her brother about raping her when they were children. Excerpts of her phone recording were played to the jury during the trial, in which he expressed apologies to his sister but did not make specific admissions. Ms Justice Tara Burns noted that the accused man had 'accepted wrongdoing of some sexual nature' but did not follow through with an admission of guilt. She set a headline sentence of nine years for the anal rapes and eight years for the oral rape. Taking into account the fact that the accused was aged 16 at the time of the offences, she reduced the headline sentences to five years for the anal rapes, four years for the oral rape, and two years for the sexual assault charge. Ms Justice Burns then suspended the final two years of each sentence, outlining further mitigating factors including the man's strong work history, his significant involvement with the GAA, and his 'impressive' character references. The judge remarked that it was 'heart-breaking' to watch the mother of both the accused and the complainant 'literally crumble' as she gave her evidence. The victim described how she had tried to resolve the issue within the family for nearly three years before going to gardaí. She said all she had wanted was an acknowledgment from her brother of his wrongdoing, but that he had chosen to put his family on the witness stand in court. The woman thanked her husband, family, gardaí, the prosecution team, and judge and jury for believing in her and helping her find the strength to get through the trial. She paid special tribute to the Victim Support at Court team for providing a 'haven' where 'nobody judges you.'
During the trial of two 14‑year‑old boys charged with murdering Anastasia Kriegel, park ranger Norman Macken testified that on the day of her disappearance he heard a man banging on the ranger hut. The man claimed his son had been "jumped on" in the woods by "big fellas". Macken approached the boy, who appeared disheveled, with blood on his fingers and clothes, and described him as looking "like a rabbit caught in the headlights". The boy, about 16, did not engage with Macken and was later seen shaking. Macken noted the boy's father said he was capable of self‑defence. The testimony was given to the Central Criminal Court as part of the ongoing proceedings against the two accused boys, who have pleaded not guilty to murder and an aggravated sexual assault charge. The trial is before Mr Justice Paul McDermott with a jury of eight men and four women.
Two 19‑year‑old men pleaded guilty to defilement of a 14‑year‑old autistic girl in a bush on 25 January 2016. Mr Justice Paul McDermott sentenced each to 18 months imprisonment, suspending the entire term for two years under strict conditions, including no contact with the victim. The men, aged 16 and 15 at the time, were part of a group of six boys who went to a field where the victim and a younger boy entered a bush and engaged in sexual activity. The men were encouraged by other boys to join. Neither wore a condom, and the victim was in school uniform. The court heard no evidence of force or that the men knew of the victim's autism or age. The victim's impact statement described feeling dirty, unsafe and worthless, but also noted progress in coping with trauma.
A 70-year-old man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the victim, has been sentenced to ten years in prison for the sexual abuse of his step-daughter, which began before her First Holy Communion. The man was convicted by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of 72 counts of indecent assault, which occurred between October 31, 1973, and August 24, 1979. Judge Elma Sheahan noted the severe psychological impact on the victim, who stated in a victim impact statement that the abuse had taken away her childhood and left her scarred forever. The judge imposed consecutive sentences of 14 years on a number of counts before setting a final sentence of ten years. She acknowledged the man's good work history and family life in recent years as mitigating factors. The abuse, which included multiple forms of sexual contact, ended when the victim was around 13 years old. The accused was in a long-term relationship with the victim's mother and was effectively her step-father. His only other previous convictions are for drunk driving.
In a trial at the Central Criminal Court, two fourteen‑year‑old boys are charged with murdering Kildare schoolgirl Anastasia Kriegel and, for one, with aggravated sexual assault. Both pleaded not guilty. Judge Paul McDermott, presiding over the case, ordered that no media reporting of evidence be allowed until the trial concludes. He reminded the jury that they must base their verdict solely on what they hear in court, ignoring any external coverage. The judge also announced that the restriction on reporting would remain in force until the trial ends or a further order is made. The proceedings continue with Mr Justice McDermott and a jury of eight men and four women. The accused cannot be named due to their minor status. The trial is ongoing.
The trial of two 14-year-old boys, referred to as Boy A and Boy B, charged with the murder of Anastasia Kriegel at Glenwood House in Lucan on 14 May last year, is ongoing before the Central Criminal Court. Both accused have pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. Boy A additionally faces a charge of aggravated sexual assault involving serious violence, to which he also pleaded not guilty. Gardai testified that the boys provided conflicting accounts of their last meeting with the victim. Boy A alleged he declined Ana's romantic interest and was subsequently assaulted by two unidentified males, claiming injuries to his right hand and leg. Boy B stated he had 'no clue' what happened to her after she appeared upset following her interaction with Boy A. Detective Sergeant John O'Keefe noted discrepancies between the boys' statements, while Sergeant Aonghus Hussey described observing confusion and inconsistent movements during a re-enactment at St Catherine's Park. The court heard that Boy A used his left hand to initial his statement due to a right-hand injury. The matter was adjourned and is scheduled to continue on Friday morning before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury.
An alleged IRA member, Seamus Marley, aged 45, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for raping two teenage boys in County Louth during the early 1990s. The Central Criminal Court found him guilty on six counts of sexual assault and two counts of rape after a six‑day trial. Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed a seven‑year term for the rape of the younger victim and a six‑year term for the older victim, with both sentences running concurrently, giving an effective custodial period of seven years. The judge also ordered Marley to refrain from any contact with the victims or their families and to comply with post‑release supervision. No part of the sentence was suspended, and the judge noted that Marley had no prior convictions and had not shown any attempt at rehabilitation. The case highlighted the alleged use of his republican connections to silence the victims. Seamus Marley pleaded not guilty.
A 22‑year‑old Dublin man avoided jail after pleading guilty to sexual defilement of a 15‑year‑old girl he knew from a residential care home. The girl, still in care at the time, left her care workers without permission, travelled on a Luas tram into town and met the man, who was 18 when they first met. They went to a city park, chatted and "ended up having sexual intercourse with each other", according to the court. Gardaí visited the man's house and he admitted he knew the girl was below the age of sexual consent. He had 64 prior convictions, including assault, burglary and firearms offences. Judge Karen O'Connor suspended a two‑year prison sentence, requiring the man to keep the peace, engage in victim‑awareness and offence‑focused work with the Probation Service, and imposed the custodial sentence if any conditions were breached.
Anastasia Kriegel, 14, vanished on 14 May after leaving home with a boy she had known. Her father, Patric Kriegel, says he saw her walk away with the boy, now identified as Boy B, at about 5 pm, before her phone last connected to her mother's office at 5:32 pm. The State claims she was dead by that time. The trial, held at the Central Criminal Court, is the second day of proceedings against two 14‑year‑olds charged with her murder. Both accused, who cannot be named, pleaded not guilty. Boy A is also charged with aggravated sexual assault. The prosecution alleges the boys lured Ana to a derelict farmhouse where she was murdered. The case remains at the trial stage, with no verdict yet.
Two 14‑year‑old boys are on trial in Dublin for the murder of 14‑year‑old Ana Kriegel. Prosecutor Brendan Grehan told the jury that one boy lured Ana from her home to a derelict farmhouse, where he watched the other boy sexually assault and kill her. The accused boy is also charged with aggravated sexual assault. Evidence presented included a zombie‑type mask in his backpack, male DNA on Ana's neck and semen in the murder scene, and a ligature tape matching the one found on her neck. The prosecution argued that the boy had planned the murder, lured Ana to the farmhouse, and then watched the assault and killing. Ana's body was found on 17 May, naked except for socks, with severe head and neck injuries. The trial is ongoing and the boys have pleaded not guilty.
Maurice Lafferty, 50, of Corcullen, Castlefin, Donegal, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court after pleading guilty to raping his daughter, Annie Lafferty, at their home between November 1, 2010, and June 30, 2011. The court heard that Lafferty, a father of six, committed the offences while his wife was away from the home four nights a week. Prosecution evidence detailed that Lafferty coerced his then-seventeen-year-old daughter, pinning her down and threatening her with the removal of her younger siblings if she reported the abuse. He allegedly raped her weekly during this period. Mr Justice Alex Owens described Lafferty as a violent and controlling man, noting that his attacks were coercive and depraved. The judge rejected Lafferty's apology as insincere and noted a probation report indicating he blamed intoxication and his daughter for the crimes. Lafferty was assessed as a moderate risk of re-offending. He was sentenced to eleven years' imprisonment. Additionally, the court ordered that he stay away from any activity involving children upon his release. In mitigation, defence counsel Anne Rowland SC cited Lafferty's heavy drinking, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and financial difficulties regarding his home. The victim, now 25, waived her anonymity and stated that her father's actions left permanent scars.