During a rape trial at the Central Criminal Court, a black juror requested to be excused after claiming discomfort with fellow jurors, citing remarks about his clothing and manner of walking. He submitted a note citing "personal reasons" and later explained to Judge Eileen Creedon that he felt "slagged" daily. The judge agreed and discharged him. The accused, a Pakistani national, had pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault at a Dublin beach. The trial was adjourned to the following Monday for a new date. The prosecution, led by Roisín Lacey SC, presented the complainant's testimony, describing consensual meetings, a subsequent incident where the accused attempted to undo her bra, and ultimately a forced sexual act. The complainant detailed her distress and attempts to seek help during the aftermath. The case remains pending.
Keith Murphy, aged 42, was convicted of repeatedly raping his step‑daughter over a six‑year period from May 2008 to November 2015. He pleaded not guilty to 26 counts of sexual assault, two counts of attempted rape and 64 counts of rape. A Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty after just under four hours of deliberation. He was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended by Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy on 29 May 2017. The offences largely occurred in the former family home in Cork while the victim, now 19, was aged nine to 15. She waived anonymity and described the abuse as having a devastating, profound and far‑reaching effect on her life. The Court of Appeal upheld the conviction, dismissing Murphy's appeal. The appeal was heard by Mr Justice George Birmingham, Mr Justice John Edwards and Mr Justice John Hedigan.
Francis Rafferty, 68, of Drumcondra, was convicted at the Central Criminal Court of two counts of raping a girl aged nine to twelve and of sexually assaulting her older sister, while acquitted of two other rape charges. He had pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting the younger girl. The court imposed concurrent sentences totalling ten years imprisonment. Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan noted a Probation Service report that Rafferty had no understanding of the hurt, trauma or long‑term effect of his actions, and that he could not equate his own childhood abuse with that of his victims. The Court of Appeal upheld the sentence, finding it within the range available to the judge, and dismissed Rafferty's appeal. The decision was delivered by Mr Justice George Birmingham, joined by Mr Justice John Edwards and Mr Justice John Hedigan.
The daughters of Jerry O'Keefe, who was sentenced to ten years in prison for repeatedly raping and sexually abusing them between 1980 and 1993, expressed relief that his appeal was dismissed. O'Keefe, 69, had pleaded guilty to nine counts of rape and sexual abuse after a jury was sworn in. He received consecutive sentences of seven years for raping one daughter and three years for abusing the other, totaling ten years. The Court of Appeal upheld the sentence, stating it was not lenient. Amy Barrett, the eldest daughter, said she was relieved the case was finally over and that the judges showed zero tolerance for child abuse. She urged other victims not to lose hope and to come forward. The appeal was dismissed by a three‑judge panel, including Mr Justice John Hedigan, Mr Justice George Birmingham and Mr Justice John Edwards.
In July 2018, a 52‑year‑old man was found guilty of raping his young cousin on a weekly basis during the mid‑1980s. The victim, who was seven when the first attempted rape occurred, was abused repeatedly between mid‑1985 and mid‑1986. The man, who cannot be named, was convicted of one count of attempted rape in January 1984 and of five counts of rape for the subsequent weekly offences. He denied all charges, but a jury returned a guilty verdict after a trial last month. The court heard the victim's impact statement, describing lifelong pain, anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts, and how the conviction has improved her health and well‑being. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for Friday, with the judge indicating a custodial sentence will be imposed. The accused has been remanded in custody awaiting sentencing.
In Dublin, a 25‑year‑old man named Eoin Berkley pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to three counts of raping an 18‑year‑old Spanish student who was staying with a host family. The offences occurred at the Irish Glass Bottle Company site on Pigeon House Road between 15 and 16 July 2017. Judge Michael White advised the victim of her right to submit a Victim Impact Statement and adjourned sentencing to allow her to prepare. Berkley was remanded in custody for a sentencing hearing scheduled for 22 October, with the court to finalise the matter that week.
A 19-year-old man from Ramelton, County Donegal, has been sentenced to five years imprisonment with the final three years suspended at the Central Criminal Court. Bailey Laughlin pleaded guilty to orally raping a 16-year-old woman at Fanad on 1 May 2016. The victim, who waived her right to anonymity, had followed Laughlin outside a party to ensure his welfare after observing him in a distressed and heavily intoxicated state. Mr Justice Michael White imposed strict conditions on the suspended portion, including probation supervision, alcohol abstinence, and engagement with sex offender management services. The judge acknowledged both aggravating factors, including the serious nature of the offence and its impact on the victim, and mitigating factors, including Laughlin's age at the time and difficult upbringing. He noted particular societal concerns regarding youth alcohol consumption and exposure to violent pornography.
A man from County Mayo has been sentenced to nine years imprisonment following his conviction at the Central Criminal Court for the anal rape of his wife on two occasions in a single night in December 2015. The 39-year-old was found guilty by jury of two counts of anal rape after a trial in May 2018. He was acquitted of four further rape charges relating to earlier dates in 2015. During sentencing, Mr Justice Michael White described the offences as most serious, noting aggravating factors including the nature of the assault, aggression involved, and degradation of the victim. The judge acknowledged the man's lack of previous convictions and medical conditions but noted the absence of a guilty plea. The victim provided an impact statement detailing the psychological consequences she had endured. The sentence was backdated to May 2018 when the man entered custody.
In a 2018 Court of Appeal hearing, the lawyers for Kevin Carroll, a drama teacher convicted of raping a seven‑year‑old student, argued that a juror had "smiled and winked" at the complainant during his trial. Carroll, aged 58, had pleaded not guilty to rape and anal rape at an Offaly school between 1996 and 1998, was found guilty by a jury at the Central Criminal Court, and sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment in February 2016. His barrister, Roderick O'Hanlon SC, claimed the trial judge should have discharged the jury when a witness gave hearsay evidence that Carroll had "looked up the skirts of girls," and that the judge should have examined the jury after the alleged gesture. The Court of Appeal, with Judges John Hedigan, Marie Baker, and George Birmingham, reserved judgment on the appeal. The appeal was lodged on grounds including alleged prejudice and the juror's alleged gesture.
A man formerly of Foxford, County Mayo, has been sentenced to 18 years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for the sexual abuse of his daughter throughout her childhood. John Murphy, aged 61, a former member of the Irish Defence Forces, pleaded guilty to rape, indecent assault and sexual assault of his eldest daughter between 1988 and 2001, with a further incident in 2010. The abuse occurred at locations in Counties Galway and Mayo when the complainant was aged between three and fifteen years. Mr Justice Michael White described the offending as characterised by "length, intensity and depravity" and noted the grave breach of trust involved. Murphy is currently serving an eight-year sentence imposed in February for sexual abuse of two younger sisters. The complainant, now aged 33, waived her right to anonymity and read a victim impact statement in court, urging others in similar situations to come forward and break silence surrounding abuse. The sentence was backdated to December 2017.
A teenager from Donegal has been found not guilty of raping and sexually assaulting a schoolmate following an incident in the early hours of March 18, 2016, in a county town. The accused, who was 16 at the time, had denied one count of rape and one of oral rape. The Central Criminal Court jury returned a unanimous not guilty verdict after approximately two hours of deliberation on the twelfth day of trial. The complainant, then also aged 16, maintained she had not consented to sexual activity that occurred behind a building following St Patrick's night celebrations. The defence argued inconsistencies in her account and emphasised the absence of verbal or physical indication of non-consent. The prosecution contended that injuries sustained were inconsistent with willing participation. Justice Deirdre Murphy directed the jury to consider whether trauma affects memory consistency. The accused left the courtroom immediately following the acquittal.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court is set to begin deliberations tomorrow in the trial of a 19-year-old from Donegal charged with raping and orally raping a schoolmate. The alleged offences occurred in the early hours of March 18th, 2016, in a Donegal town, when the complainant was 16 years old. The accused has pleaded not guilty to both counts. Justice Deirdre Murphy concluded her charge to the jury today, directing members on the burden of proof and instructing them to assess the reliability of witness testimony. The judge advised jurors to consider whether memory inconsistencies might be expected in accounts of traumatic events. During closing arguments, the prosecution contended that injuries sustained by the complainant were consistent with forced sexual assault, whilst the defence submitted that significant gaps existed in the complainant's recollection of events that night.
A trial at the Central Criminal Court concerning a Donegal teenager charged with rape has entered its closing phase. The accused, aged 19, has pleaded not guilty to one count of rape and one count of oral rape of a schoolgirl, then 16, alleged to have occurred outside a building in a County Donegal town in March 2016. The prosecution outlined that injuries sustained by the complainant were consistent with forced sexual contact rather than consensual activity. The defence highlighted gaps in the complainant's recollection of events and referenced CCTV footage showing both teenagers together after the alleged incident, suggesting this undermined the complainant's credibility. A garda report noted the complainant did not appear visibly distressed in the recording. The case is being heard before Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy and a jury of eleven members.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 15‑year‑old woman recounted being raped by a 59‑year‑old man who later threatened her with a defamation lawsuit after she disclosed the abuse to a family member. The victim described the assault as occurring while she was babysitting at the man's home, where he showed her pornographic material and then raped her. She had previously told two siblings before 2004, a doctor in 2013, and a relative at a charity event in 2014. After the last disclosure, the man sent a solicitor's letter threatening legal action. He pleaded not guilty to the rape, was convicted in May, and will be sentenced later. He was acquitted of two additional sexual assault charges. The woman's testimony highlighted long‑term psychological effects, including loss of confidence, nightmares, and claustrophobia, and she emphasized reclaiming her self‑worth and identity as a survivor.
In 2018, a 51‑year‑old Limerick man pleaded guilty to seven charges of rape and sexual assault against a 12‑year‑old girl in the 1990s. The offences were alleged to have occurred in various locations around County Limerick. The trial took place at the Central Criminal Court, and the man's plea was entered on the second day of the proceedings in May. Patrick McGrath SC informed Justice Deirdre Murphy that the defence was struggling to obtain necessary reports for the sentencing hearing, and requested an adjournment. The judge agreed to postpone the hearing to 8 October next year.
A 19-year-old man has told the Central Criminal Court that a girl gave no verbal or physical indication she did not consent to sexual activity during an alleged incident in Co Donegal in March 2016, when both were aged 16. The accused, who denies one count of rape and one of oral rape, testified on the eighth day of his trial that he and the girl were "flirting" and "in good form" when they went behind a building. He claimed she agreed to sexual contact and that the atmosphere between them afterwards was "romantic". Under cross-examination, he rejected suggestions that the girl had repeatedly told him to stop or that he had used force. He could not explain multiple bruises and abrasions documented by a forensic nurse on the girl's body three days later. The trial continues before Justice Deirdre Murphy and a jury.
A garda investigator has told the Central Criminal Court that he identified an inconsistency between CCTV footage and a complainant's account in an alleged rape case. Lead investigator Garda Paul Leape defended his decision not to show the teenage complainant the footage, stating it was not an investigator's role to afford witnesses a second opportunity to explain discrepancies in evidence. The accused, aged 19, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape against a then 16-year-old girl in a Donegal town on 18 March 2016. On day seven of the trial before Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy and jury, Gda Leape confirmed that his report to the Director of Public Prosecutions noted the CCTV showed the girl and accused returning hand in hand and kissing, with her appearing not visibly upset. Under cross-examination, the garda acknowledged the footage did not necessarily support the complainant's account but clarified that outer appearances on video do not reflect internal emotional states. The trial continues tomorrow.
A garda leading the investigation into an alleged rape in County Donegal was cross-examined at the Central Criminal Court regarding the handling of evidence in the case. A 19-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to charges of rape and oral rape alleged to have occurred in March 2016. During cross-examination on day seven of the trial, defence counsel questioned Garda Paul Leape about discrepancies in the alleged victim's accounts, including conflicting details about a phone call made during the incident. The garda defended the investigative approach, stating that minor inconsistencies were natural given the traumatic circumstances and that gathering evidence was the responsibility of gardaí rather than cross-examining witnesses. Counsel also raised questions about CCTV footage showing the complainant and accused together after the alleged offences. The trial before Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy continues with a jury of eight men and four women.
A 19‑year‑old woman who was raped and sexually assaulted by two 27‑year‑old cousins while en‑route to a party criticised the court process for making victims appear "untrustworthy." She said her previous sexual history was brought up during one cousin's trial, which she found confusing. The first cousin denied a rape charge at a Waterford address on 20 December 2015, but was convicted by a jury in a Central Criminal Court trial in May. Mr Justice Paul Butler sentenced him to eight years for rape, suspending the final two years, and the second cousin to five years for sexual assault, suspending the final 24 months. The woman read a victim impact statement in which she said parts of her past unrelated to the case were used to portray her as untrustworthy, and that the court process had shattered her faith in humanity. The unnamed accused pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin case, 21‑year‑old Daryl Ralph pleaded guilty to attempted sexual assault of a 20‑year‑old woman during a birthday party on 16 August 2014. The court heard that Ralph and another man forced the victim to touch them sexually, held her head, ripped off her underwear, and attempted to make her touch his penis before stopping. Ralph offered €1,000 in compensation, which the judge directed to be given to the victim, and was ordered to pay an additional €1,500 within three days. Mr Justice Paul Butler imposed a two‑year sentence suspended in full, contingent on Ralph's full engagement with the Probation Service and compliance with its directions. He was also placed on the sex offenders register. The judge noted the victim's distress and the celebratory context of the incident. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court.
A trial at the Central Criminal Court heard evidence yesterday concerning allegations against a 19-year-old youth charged with rape in County Donegal. The accused denies raping and orally raping a 16-year-old girl behind a building in the early hours of March 18, 2016. A witness who saw the complainant shortly after the alleged offences testified that although the girl had consumed alcohol, she remained responsive and coherent, though visibly distressed with visible injuries. The court heard testimony from another witness describing panic-stricken phone calls in which the complainant sought help. A medical examination two days later revealed multiple bruising and abrasions across the girl's body. Forensic evidence indicated the complainant's blood on the accused's clothing and her DNA on a recovered condom. The trial before Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy continues.
Garrett Phillips, 46, of Galway, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for a single charge of orally raping a 20‑year‑old woman on the outskirts of Galway on 5 November 2015. The judge described the offence as "predatory" and "callous", noting that the victim was alone, vulnerable and upset in a park at night. Phillips had offered her a lift home, but did not take her to her destination. He pleaded not guilty and denied that the act was consensual. The court accepted his clean record and imposed a six‑year sentence, down from an eight‑year headline. Phillips was ordered to undergo a therapeutic programme and was described by his siblings as a devoted husband and father. The victim's impact statement highlighted the lasting psychological harm she has suffered, including depression, anxiety and a loss of confidence in walking alone. Garrett Phillips was convicted.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has viewed CCTV footage from Donegal Town showing a teenager accused of rape before and after the alleged offences on St Patrick's Day 2016. The accused, now 19, denies the charges relating to a 16-year-old girl. During cross-examination, defence counsel Michael O'Higgins SC highlighted footage showing the pair walking together with their arms around each other beforehand, and later holding hands and kissing. He submitted their apparent comfort suggested consent. The complainant, now 18, testified she was in a state of shock and could not explain her actions afterwards. She acknowledged consuming significant alcohol that evening. The trial also heard evidence regarding an earlier incident at a house party and an inconsistency in her account to gardaí about a second vehicle at the scene. The complainant expressed difficulty recalling and articulating certain details. The trial before Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy continues.
In 2006, Niall Healy, 42, was sentenced to 20 years for aggravated sexual assault and false imprisonment, with the final 10 years suspended. He had a prior 12‑year rape conviction in 1993, the last six years of which were suspended. After his release in January 2014, Healy was jailed for two years for robbery. He was released again in January 2018 and subsequently relapsed into drug use, attacked a woman's car at traffic lights, and broke into an unoccupied house. On 6 June 2015, six years of the suspended term were re‑activated and back‑dated, leaving four years suspended on strict conditions. Mr Justice McCarthy ordered drug treatment, anger management, and educational courses, noting that Healy had failed to fulfil the obligations imposed by the courts. The judge emphasised that the community's protection required Healy to remain under a suspended term upon release.
An 18-year-old woman testified at the Central Criminal Court regarding allegations that she was raped in Donegal Town on March 18, 2016, following St Patrick's Day celebrations. The woman, who was 16 at the time of the alleged incident, described the assault occurring in a passage-way behind a building in the town. During cross-examination on the third day of trial, she became distressed while recounting details of the alleged offence. She stated that she had attempted to mentally distance herself from the experience. The accused, aged 19, has pleaded not guilty to one count of rape and one count of oral rape. The defence counsel questioned aspects of her recollection, including her consumption of approximately five vodkas, two cocktails, and a shot of sambuca consumed over two and a half hours. The woman confirmed she had reported the allegations to a family member three days after the incident. The trial before Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy and a jury continues.
Keith Murphy, aged 42, is awaiting the outcome of an appeal against his conviction for repeatedly raping his step‑daughter over a six‑year period. He pleaded not guilty to 26 counts of sexual assault, two counts of attempted rape and 64 counts of rape between May 2008 and November 2015. A Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty after just under four hours of deliberation, and he was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended by Justice Deirdre Murphy on 29 May 2017. The offences largely took place in the former family home in Cork while the victim, now 19, was aged nine to 15. She waived anonymity and reported the abuse's devastating impact. The appeal, opened today, focuses on alleged due‑process failures, including the judge's handling of DNA evidence and jury instructions. The Court of Appeal will reserve its judgment.
A 67‑year‑old Dublin man, whose name is withheld by court order, was jailed after being caught masturbating at a children's party a day after his release. He has two prior convictions for sexual assault on juveniles and had an 18‑month sentence imposed in March 2017 for breaching an order that prohibited interaction with children. The sentence was suspended on the condition that he complied with all Probation Service directions and remained abstinent from intoxicants. He had previously failed to appear in court, leading to bench warrants. The court found he had been intoxicated and had his hand on his crotch with his zip undone at the party. Judge Patricia Ryan re‑activated the suspended sentence and ordered the man to appear again in September for the indecency allegations. The Probation Service had noted his alcohol abuse as a contributory risk factor. The unnamed 67-year-old pleaded guilty.
A trial at the Central Criminal Court concerning charges of rape and sexual assault allegedly committed in County Donegal in March 2016 has entered legal argument, with jury proceedings temporarily suspended. The accused, now aged 19, denies one count of rape and one of sexual assault involving a 16-year-old girl. The alleged incident occurred following St Patrick's Day celebrations in a Donegal town after the pair met at a takeaway. During evidence, the complainant described consuming several alcoholic drinks that evening and stated the accused suggested a walk, after which the alleged offences took place behind a nearby building. The court heard testimony regarding text messages the girl sent to a friend during the incident. The trial before Justice Deirdre Murphy is expected to resume with jury evidence tomorrow afternoon.
A trial began at the Central Criminal Court on charges arising from an alleged rape in County Donegal in March 2016. The complainant, now aged 18, gave evidence that she was assaulted by a schoolmate she had met in a town centre takeaway after St Patrick's Day celebrations when she was 16. She described being persuaded into a secluded area where she said she was sexually assaulted and subsequently raped despite repeated refusals. The court heard text messages she sent to a friend immediately after the alleged incident, including "help help please" and reports of blood on her person. The accused man, aged 19, has pleaded not guilty to one count of rape and one count of sexual assault. Justice Deirdre Murphy cautioned jurors against conducting independent online searches or discussing the case publicly. The trial is expected to continue until mid-week.
Walter Morrissey has lost his appeal against the severity of his sentence for aggravated sexual assault and intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to his former partner. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice John Edwards with Mr Justice John Hedigan and Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, dismissed the appeal without hesitation. Morrissey, 74, was found guilty by a jury of assaulting a woman in Kilkenny between December 1 and 8, 2011. Medical evidence indicated he used his fist to cause severe injuries, which a gynaecologist described as comparable to machete rape in sub-Saharan Africa, stating self-infliction was impossible. In 2013, Mr Justice George Birmingham sentenced Morrissey to 13 years imprisonment, describing him as cunning, devious, and manipulative. Counsel Seán Gillane SC argued the sentence was excessive compared to typical rape cases. However, the appellate court found the sentence lenient, noting the case fit within a 15-year-to-life category before a generous four-year reduction for age. The court stated the depravity reached new depths. Morrissey's criminal history includes a 1977 conviction for the double manslaughter of Francis McEnery and his son Marcus, and a 1999 conviction for seven counts of indecent assault. He previously lost an appeal against his conviction for the current sexual assault charges in May.
A trial has begun at the Central Criminal Court concerning allegations of rape and sexual assault following an incident in Co Donegal on St Patrick's Day 2016. The accused teenager, now aged 19, has denied one charge of rape and one of sexual assault against a 16-year-old girl. The court heard the pair met at a takeaway premises in a Co Donegal town after the complainant had socialised with friends earlier that evening. According to the prosecution opening, the alleged assault occurred behind a nearby building. The State's case will rely on CCTV footage, forensic evidence including DNA recovered from clothing and a condom, and testimony from the complainant and witnesses. The jury was cautioned against conducting independent online research or discussing the case on social media. The trial is expected to conclude mid-week.
Anthony Hussey, 27, from Ardshillane, Sneem, Co Kerry, was sentenced to 13 years' imprisonment for twice raping a 73‑year‑old woman after breaking into her home on 20 September 2014. He pleaded guilty to two categories of rape at the Central Criminal Court. The sentence included five years of post‑release supervision. Hussey appealed against the severity of the sentence, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal. Justice John Hedigan described the offence as one of the most serious cases of rape before the court, noting that Hussey had placed the victim's hand over her mouth, struck her face, threatened her with further rape, and left her covered with a duvet. The judge highlighted the extraordinary impact on the victim and the "constellation of aggravation" that justified the severe sentence. Hussey had no prior convictions and was described as well‑adjusted and popular in his community before the offence.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 14‑year‑old teenager with a mild intellectual disability pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting his eight‑year‑old half‑brother on 4 December 2015. The court found the accused had lived in various foster families and was now in state care at a residential boys' home, having sat his Junior Cert that summer. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy noted the teenager's history of self‑harm, psychiatric treatment, and obsessive interest in pornography, and described him as a troubled youth from a dysfunctional family. He imposed a two‑year sentence suspended in full, conditioned on the teenager keeping the peace, behaving well for three years, and complying with Tulsa and Probation Service requirements. The victim, now ten, gave a brief impact statement expressing distress and anger at the assault. The accused had completed about two‑thirds of an 18‑month treatment programme for aberrant sexual behaviour.
A 37‑year‑old UK businessman was convicted in Dublin Central Criminal Court of three counts of rape and eight counts of sexual assault against two girls aged 10 and 12, who were abused between December 2010 and March 2011. The victims were targeted while their mother was neglectful, and the man moved the family to Ireland to avoid detection. He was extradited from the United States in 2014 after authorities discovered he planned to travel to Florida. Mr Justice Michael White found the offences "grave" and imposed a 14‑year custodial sentence, suspending the last two years on the condition that the man remain law‑abiding and participate in the "Better Lives" treatment programme for sex offenders. The judge noted the lasting impact on the victims, who now age 17 and 19, and highlighted the role of the foster parents in their recovery.
A 37‑year‑old man was jailed for 18 years after breaking into his ex‑partner's home on 10 September 2016 and repeatedly raping her and her 16‑year‑old foster daughter. The judge described the case as a "night of horror" and noted the man's repeated sexual assaults, threats with a knife, and attempts to rape both victims while intoxicated with whiskey and cocaine. The ex‑partner testified that she was threatened with a knife and forced to bring the child upstairs, where the man raped both women. The court heard that the man had pleaded guilty to six counts of rape. He was found to have been in full command of his senses, but the judge imposed a severe sentence reflecting the prolonged abuse and the victims' suffering. The sentence was 18 years, with no mention of a suspended portion or effective custody beyond the imposed term.
A 37‑year‑old Limerick man was jailed for 18 years after breaking into his ex‑partner's home on 10 September 2016 and repeatedly raping her and her 16‑year‑old foster daughter. The man, who was heavily intoxicated with whiskey and cocaine, threatened the foster mother with a knife and forced both victims to submit to repeated sexual assaults. He held the ex‑partner's mouth shut, pressed a knife to her throat, and attempted to rape her before ultimately raping her while threatening to stab her. He then forced her to bring the foster daughter upstairs, threatened her with the knife, and together they were repeatedly raped. The ordeal lasted several hours, during which the man drank whiskey, struck the ex‑partner, smashed her mobile, and prevented her from using the bathroom. The unnamed 37 year old pleaded guilty.
A 65‑year‑old man from County Waterford pleaded guilty in the Central Criminal Court to a series of sexual offences against three children. He admitted two counts of rape and 13 counts of indecent assault against one girl aged 12 to 15 between 1983 and 1987, one count of indecent assault against a second girl aged 13 to 14 between 1979 and 1981, and two counts of indecent assault against a third girl aged 9 to 12 between 1988 and 1991. The defendant was not named for legal reasons. Michael Delaney SC informed Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy that the guilty pleas were acceptable to the Director of Public Prosecutions on the condition that full facts would be presented at the sentencing hearing. Mary Rose Gearty SC, the defence counsel, requested that the defendant remain on bail to manage family and administrative matters, acknowledging that he would soon enter custody for a substantial period.
In a decision on 21 June 2018, a court lifted an order that had barred the media from naming Slawomir Gierlowski, a 34‑year‑old Polish roofer from Drimnagh, who had been jailed in March for a series of violent sex attacks. Gierlowski was convicted of attacking three women in 2011, 2015 and 2016 around Clondalkin, south Dublin. Two of the attacks involved sexual assault and occurred late at night, while the third, in daylight, saw Gierlowski brandishing a hunting knife at Ruth Maxwell as she walked to the Luas. He pleaded not guilty to nine charges and maintains his innocence. Judge Pauline Codd, at his May sentencing hearing, described the attacks as brutal and primal, using a leather belt, a hunting knife, duct tape and cable ties. She imposed consecutive sentences of eight years, nine and a half years and five years, suspending the final four years on the condition that he complete sex‑offender programmes in custody.
In 2018 a 25‑year‑old man's rape conviction was quashed after the Court of Appeal ruled that his lawyers had been prevented from questioning a 15‑year‑old complainant about her use of a contraceptive pill. The man had been found guilty by a Central Criminal Court jury in 2016 and sentenced to eight years' imprisonment. The defence had argued that the girl's sexual activity was consensual and that she had been sexually active before the alleged rape, citing text messages and a photo of a male penis. The trial judge had ruled that these materials did not prove close sexual relations and that questioning the girl about her pill use would be degrading. The Court of Appeal agreed that the judge had wrongly excluded questions about why the girl was on the pill, an issue it deemed important for the jury's credibility assessment. The unnamed 15-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Paula Farrell, 44, had her murder conviction quashed by the Court of Appeal after a Central Criminal Court jury found her guilty of killing her partner Wayne McQuillan, 30, on 1 January 2014. The appeal argued that the trial judge wrongly excluded the partial defence of provocation, which could have been considered by the jury. The court noted that Farrell had claimed she was provoked by McQuillan's violence and that she had a history of alcohol‑induced psychosis and PTSD from alleged sexual abuse. The Court of Appeal ordered a retrial and remanded Farrell in custody. The case remains at the retrial stage, with no further outcome reported in the article. Paula Farrell pleaded not guilty.
In a Cork city park on 28 June 2013, Keith Aherne, aged 24, was found guilty of raping a woman while he held her down. He denied the charges. The other perpetrator, who pleaded guilty but died before sentencing, is alleged to have committed the rape. Aherne was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, and was deemed a principal offender for aiding and abetting the offence. The Court of Appeal upheld the conviction. Mr Justice Alan Mahon, sitting with Mr Justice George Birmingham and Mr Justice John Edwards, dismissed all of Aherne's grounds of appeal, noting that none had succeeded. Aherne's barrister, Brendan Grehan SC, argued that the trial judge erred in admitting certain evidence and in handling cross‑examination, but these arguments were rejected by the appellate court. The appeal was therefore dismissed. The conviction remains in force.
Patrick Nevin, 36, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to rape of a woman in Bellewstown, Co. Meath on 12 July 2014 and to sexual assault of a second woman at an unknown location in Co. Meath on 16 July 2014. These charges follow a prior conviction in December 2017 for sexually assaulting a Brazilian student in July 2014. Nevin had met all three victims on the Tinder dating app and, on each first date, drove them to secluded spots where the assaults occurred. The court allowed evidence from the other two victims to be presented because the modus operandi was similar. Nevin's defence sought removal of media reports of his earlier convictions, but the judge rejected this request, finding no real risk of an unfair trial. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for 26 July 2018.
A 30‑year‑old Meath man, Martin Sherlock, was convicted of raping a woman he met on the dating app Badoo. The victim had told him they could not have sex without a condom and had repeatedly said "no" during the encounter. Sherlock admitted he had ejaculated inside her and had stolen her mobile phone. He pleaded not guilty but was found guilty after a four‑day trial. The court noted that Sherlock had lost his job and cancelled wedding plans. Gardaí arrested him following a sting operation in which they posed as buyers of a phone he was selling. He was remanded in custody until a sentencing hearing on 2 July. The case was presented as a clear instance of non‑consensual sex after the victim's explicit refusal to have sex without a condom.
A 25-year-old asylum seeker has been sentenced to five years imprisonment for rape following his guilty plea at Dublin Central Criminal Court. The man pleaded guilty to raping his former girlfriend at a location in Ballyhaunis, County Mayo on 10 January 2016. Imposing sentence, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy acknowledged the severe impact on the victim and her resilience. The court heard that during an incident at a house party, the accused locked the woman in a bathroom, ignored her refusals of consent, and used force against her. The man, an African national who arrived in Ireland in 2012, had his asylum application rejected and remains in direct provision accommodation. The judge noted the defendant's guilty plea, difficult childhood circumstances, and absence of prior criminal behaviour in Ireland, whilst considering the gravity of the offence. The victim disclosed in her impact statement that she had experienced suicidal ideation and required psychiatric medication following the attack.
A 78-year-old man has been sentenced to four years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court following his guilty plea to five sample charges of rape. The offences occurred between 1973 and 1974 at a family home in County Mayo, perpetrated against his daughter when she was between nine and twelve years old. The woman, now 54, reported the abuse to gardaí in 2015 after decades of silence. In her victim impact statement, she described how the repeated assaults had damaged her relationships and caused lasting trauma. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy imposed the sentence, noting it was substantially reduced from what would otherwise have been imposed due to the accused's advanced age and poor health. The judge acknowledged the depravity inherent in such offences whilst balancing mitigating factors including the man's immediate admission and remorse upon arrest. The sentence was backdated to May when he entered custody.
During a sentencing hearing in the Central Criminal Court, Mr Justice Paul Butler emphasised that rape complainants should receive legal advice throughout trials. He referred to a case involving a 24‑year‑old Dublin man who had raped a 17‑year‑old girl after forcing her into a park. The trial had collapsed twice before a jury heard it a third time, the first collapse due to a panic attack by the victim. The man was convicted of one rape charge and acquitted of another involving the same complainant. He received a five‑year sentence, with the final year suspended, and had 51 prior non‑violent convictions. Butler noted the presumption of innocence remains until guilt is proven, and warned that while complainants must be considered, the process should not bias the jury toward guilt. The judge also highlighted the victim's ongoing mental health struggles and the impact of the assault on her life. The unnamed 24-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 11 June 2018, Mr Justice Paul Butler imposed a two‑year suspended sentence on Gabriel Prunariu, aged 24, for attempting to defile a 16‑year‑old girl. Prunariu pleaded guilty to attempted defilement of a child at his Dublin home on 6 February 2016. The judge noted that the offence carried a maximum five‑year custodial term, that no violence was involved, and that Prunariu had no prior violent convictions. He had one minor conviction for burglary. The court considered that Prunariu was now on the Sex Offenders Register, which would affect his future, and that he had cooperated fully with the investigation. The judge therefore suspended the custodial sentence, leaving the non‑custodial penalty in place. The case was prosecuted by Garnet Orange SC and defended by Michael Bowman SC. The victim's impact statement described flashbacks, missed school and emotional distress.
Alan Hanley, aged 35 and without a fixed abode, was convicted at the Central Criminal Court of three counts of rape and one count of assault after attacking a woman in her Limerick home on the night of 4–5 May 2012. He pleaded not guilty but was found guilty on all counts at a retrial, and Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy sentenced him to 12 ½ years for each rape and five years for the assault. Hanley appealed on the basis that the trial judge failed to give the jury a corroboration warning, a warning that had been issued in his first trial. The Court of Appeal agreed, directed a retrial and remanded him in custody pending the next hearing on 25 June. The appeal centred on inconsistencies in the complainant's testimony, including whether Hanley ejaculated and the subsequent handling of a rug. Hanley's prior convictions include possession of a knife (2000) and threats to kill (2007, 2008).
A 73-year-old man from County Mayo will not face a third retrial following a Court of Appeal ruling. His rape conviction, overturned in February 2018, will not be prosecuted again after the Director of Public Prosecutions' application for a retrial was refused. The man had been found guilty at the Central Criminal Court in 2015 of indecent assault and multiple counts of sexual assault and rape of a child between 1990 and 1994, receiving a 13-year sentence with the final five years suspended. The Court of Appeal had set aside the conviction, finding that evidence of the man's previous convictions for abusing the complainant's sisters should not have been presented to the jury due to their prejudicial effect. In refusing the retrial application, Mr Justice Alan Mahon cited the appellant's age and health, the age of the allegations, and the fact this would constitute a third trial on the matter. The unnamed 73-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin case, a 36‑year‑old man was convicted of sexually abusing his eight‑year‑old nephew between 1988 and 1991. He was found guilty of eight counts of indecent assault, one count of rape and one count of sexual assault. The court noted the abuse was frequent, occurring three or four times a week, and that the victim was threatened with violence. The man had denied all charges, including 26 additional counts that the judge directed the jury to acquit. He received a 10‑year prison sentence, imposed on 20 February 2017, for the seriousness of the offences and the child's age. He appealed the conviction, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, stating the investigation was adequate and the conviction was safe. The appeal against the sentence's severity was later withdrawn.