The Central Criminal Court trial of a 29‑year‑old man, who cannot be named, continues. He pleaded not guilty to one count of rape at a Dublin apartment on 28 September 2008. The jury is hearing evidence from Dr Harry Kennedy, clinical director of the Central Mental Hospital, as a rebuttal witness for the prosecution. Dr Kennedy will address the alleged condition of "sexsomnia," which he claims may cause the accused to perform sexual acts while asleep. He will resume his testimony after legal argument before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and the jury of eight men and four women.
In the Central Criminal Court, a 29‑year‑old man pleaded not guilty to a single count of rape after an alleged incident on 28 September 2008. The defence argued that the accused was suffering from sexsomnia, a condition that could cause sexual acts while asleep, and had testified that the man was likely acting in his sleep. The prosecution countered with Dr Harry Kennedy, clinical director of the Central Mental Hospital, who examined the evidence. He described the victim's account of waking to the accused having sex with her, noting that her clothing had been altered and that the accused had removed and reinserted his penis. Kennedy concluded that these actions demonstrated full mental capacity, intent, and purposeful conduct at the time of the alleged offence. The trial will continue with his testimony before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of eight men and four women.
A 49‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment for six counts of sexual assault against four sisters aged 12 to 13 and 7, committed between 2002 and 2004 while living with their mother in the family home. He pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court and had a prior rape conviction from 1995. The judge, Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, noted his guilty pleas and remorse, the severe impact on the victims, and imposed consecutive sentences totalling 12 years with a four‑year probation supervision order. The accused had lived in the home since 2001, abused the eldest sister almost daily for a year and a half, threatened her with death if she reported the abuse, and was arrested in April 2005 but not charged. The case involved victim impact reports from all four girls, each describing lasting trauma and disrupted family relationships.
A 55-year-old Mayo man has been sentenced to three years imprisonment, with the final year suspended, following his conviction on seven counts of indecent assault against two of his sisters committed between 1977 and 1984. The Central Criminal Court sitting in Castlebar heard that the assaults occurred when the victims were aged between 15 and 22 years old. The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was convicted by jury in July. Mr Justice Tony Hunt imposed concurrent sentences ranging from three months to three years, suspending the final year on condition that no further sexual offence is committed. The judge noted that while the offending may be at the lower end of the spectrum, considerable harm had been caused to the victims. The man will be subject to the sex offenders register. The complaints were made to gardaí in 2011, approximately three decades after the alleged incidents occurred.
A mother was sentenced to 18 months in prison for failing to protect her six‑year‑old son from extreme sexual violence by his father. The father, convicted of raping the child and locking him in a wooden box, received a 14‑year sentence. The mother was convicted of a single count of child cruelty. Judge Robert Eagar noted she was aware of the abuse but did not alert authorities or protect the child. She has a history of sexual abuse and a mild to significant intellectual disability. She remains in contact with the father and prison staff worry she is being manipulated. The judge imposed a three‑year sentence with 18 months suspended, requiring no contact with the father during that period. The mother did not react to the sentence. The case highlights the mother's failure to act despite knowledge of the abuse. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty and was acquitted.
In a Dublin rape trial, a psychiatrist specialising in sleep disorders, Dr Catherine Crowe, testified that the 29‑year‑old accused had a long history of parasomnia, including sleepwalking, night terrors and sexsomnia. She argued that the alleged rape on the night of 28 September 2008 could have been a sexsomnia episode, noting the accused's pattern of behaviour and his history of sleep‑related sexual activity. Dr Crowe stated that she believed the incident was "more likely" a sexsomnia episode, though she acknowledged the complainant's testimony that the accused was awake minutes after the act. She agreed with the prosecution that the complainant had not consented and that the accused was the instigator. The case is proceeding before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury. The unnamed 29-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 45‑year‑old Laois man was convicted of rape after a week‑long hearing. He had previously admitted assaulting his wife by punching her in the face. During the assault he shouted "no God is going to help you" and threatened to rape her, claiming she had insulted him about his ability to attract women. He said he had punched her five or six times before she begged for mercy. He then asked for sex, which she consented to, describing it as a way to escape the situation. The man pleaded not guilty to the rape charge but guilty to assault. Mr Justice Paul Butler refused bail, citing the seriousness of the offence and the victim's fragile character, and remanded the defendant in custody until sentencing on 12 December.
In the Central Criminal Court, a 29‑year‑old man pleaded not guilty to one count of raping a female friend at a Dublin apartment on 28 September 2008. The jury heard from two university friends who claimed the accused had groped them while sleepwalking in 2008, one while sharing a double bed in America and another during a Chicago weekend where he allegedly touched a woman's breasts and buttocks. The accused's mother and brothers testified to a family history of sleep disorders, describing incidents of the accused sleepwalking, including one where he was found in a woman's bedroom in a hotel and another where he was seen walking toward a balcony. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, continues before a jury of eight men and four women. The accused's identity remains withheld for legal reasons.
Kevin Mulcahy, a 57‑year‑old GP from Creggan, Lombardstown, Mallow, Co Cork, was found guilty of indecently assaulting a 15‑year‑old female patient on 23 December 1989. He pleaded not guilty to the single charge, but a jury convicted him after 39 minutes of deliberation at the Cork Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin sentenced him to two years' imprisonment on 25 November 2015. Mulcahy had been granted bail in December 2015 pending an appeal against conviction, which was dismissed by the Court of Appeal on 13 October 2016. Justice John Edwards ruled that Mulcahy had regularly visited the patient's home to treat her mother, who had terminal cancer, and that during one visit he touched the patient's vagina on the outside of her clothing. He was arrested and interviewed in 2011 following a complaint of indecent assault.
In a Dublin rape trial, a 29‑year‑old man pleaded not guilty to raping a female friend in September 2008. A sleep expert, Dr John Michael Shneerson, testified that the accused had been diagnosed with sexsomnia, a sleep disorder involving involuntary sexual activity during non‑REM sleep. He described the man's lack of awareness, memory loss, and remorseful actions after the incident, noting that these are typical of sexsomnia. Dr Shneerson explained that the accused had previous episodes of sexual approaches during sleep, including one with a male friend, and that the alleged rape likely occurred about 90 minutes after he fell asleep, a period when sexsomnia is most common. The court heard that the accused had no conscious control over his actions and that the condition was consistent with the facts presented. The trial proceeded before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury.
The 28‑year‑old former girlfriend of an unnamed man accused of rape testified at his trial that she had seen a documentary on "sexsomnia" and urged him to see a doctor. She described how, during their early relationship, she woke to find him grinding against her while asleep, and that he continued to do so on several occasions, sometimes with no memory of it. She also recounted an incident where he punched her face while they were both asleep. The accused, who pleaded not guilty, said he was drunk but not heavily, had no memory of the act, and had taken steps to prevent recurrence, including no longer sharing a bedroom with female friends and visiting a sleep clinic. The trial is before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of eight men and four women.
A man from Lanesborough has been convicted of possession of child sexual abuse material at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Paul Devine, aged 45, pleaded guilty to the offence relating to material found at his home in April 2011. An investigation by the Garda Computer Crime Investigation unit discovered 80 photographs and 25 videos of child sexual abuse on his laptop. Gardaí also established that Devine had accessed an image-sharing website more than 10,000 times. Judge Pauline Codd imposed an 18-month suspended sentence, suspended for two years on strict conditions. The court heard that a significant delay in processing evidence by the garda unit meant Devine was not arrested and charged until November 2014, some three and a half years after the initial search warrant was executed. The defence noted Devine had no previous convictions and had undertaken psychological counselling since the conviction.
In a Dublin trial, a 29‑year‑old man pleaded not guilty to one count of raping a female friend at an apartment on 28 September 2008. He told the jury that he has a history of sleepwalking and night terrors, and that he has no memory of initiating sexual activity with the complainant. He recounted past incidents where he woke up kissing or touching others in his sleep, and that he had been told by a friend that he had been "spooning" him in bed. He explained that after a night out with the complainant they went to a friend's house, where he fell asleep on a spare bed. He claimed he woke up on top of the woman, had no recollection of how he got there, and that he later texted her to apologise.
A 66‑year‑old man was sentenced to 14 years in prison for raping his son from the age of six and locking him in a box in their Waterford home. The judge, Mr Justice Robert Eagar, imposed a 15‑year sentence with the final year suspended, and ordered a four‑year supervision period after release. The father, who has been registered as a sex offender, continues to deny the offences and intends to appeal the verdict. He was convicted of nine counts of rape and one count of child cruelty, but acquitted of raping the child with a poker. His 38‑year‑old partner was convicted of child cruelty but found not guilty of sex assault. The case involved the child being removed from the family home in 2011, placed in foster care, and later subjected to further sexual abuse by another child.
The High Court dismissed a bid to halt a rape trial for a man in his sixties accused of raping a seven‑year‑old girl in a field near her home over 40 years ago. The man, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, denies the allegation. He had previously filed a challenge to prevent his trial at the Central Criminal Court, claiming that three key witnesses had died and that there was a real risk of an unfair trial. The Director of Public Prosecutions opposed the application, arguing the case should proceed. Mr Justice Paul McDermott ruled that the man had not established any grounds to discontinue the prosecution and cleared the way for the trial to continue. The judge noted that the prosecution intends to proceed on the basis that the single charge represents multiple alleged rapes over a five‑month period in the early 1970s.
A 29‑year‑old man accused of raping a female friend in Dublin on 28 September 2008 pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court. In an interview with Gardaí he admitted to having a history of sleep‑walking and claimed he may have had sex with the woman while asleep, saying he does not remember the incident. He described being in a semi‑conscious state and asserted he would never have unprotected sex. He also admitted to sleeping with other friends and kissing other girls in his sleep, and that he and the complainant were close friends but not a couple. He told Gardaí that on the night of the alleged rape he woke up with the complainant asking if he was wearing a condom. The trial is before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of eight men and four women.
In the Central Criminal Court, a 29‑year‑old defendant pleaded not guilty to a single count of rape, claiming he was sleepwalking when he allegedly assaulted a female friend in a Dublin apartment on 28 September 2008. The jury has heard that Garda Noel Sweeney performed a mobile‑phone analysis in February 2009, extracting incoming and outgoing texts between the complainant and the accused during a specific period. Sweeney confirmed that the analysis involved downloading the phone and selected text messages, producing a print‑out. He acknowledged that the phone could retain or delete messages, but stated that in this case no such deletion was performed. He also noted that, apart from five texts, no outgoing messages were recorded after 26 October 2008, the day the complainant first visited a Garda station. The trial proceeds before Justice Patrick McCarthy with a jury of eight men and four women.
A 64‑year‑old man was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a six‑month jail term for indecent assault of his brother, sister and nephew over an 18‑year period. Judge Patricia Ryan explained that the maximum sentence available at the time of the offences was two years, and that the court had to consider the man's guilty plea and his chronic debilitating condition, which would cause additional hardship in prison. She imposed a seven‑month suspended sentence for the abuse of the two siblings, a ten‑month sentence for the abuse of the nephew with the final four months suspended, and ordered the man to be registered as a sex offender. The man, who appeared on a mobility scooter, was 14 when he first abused his younger brother, 17 when he abused his 13‑year‑old sister, and 28 when he abused his nephew, who was aged between seven and 12.
A 53‑year‑old man who sexually abused his younger sister 16 times between 1983 and 1987, when she was aged 7 to 11, was found guilty by a jury at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and sentenced to nine years' imprisonment by Judge Martin Nolan on 12 January 2015. The man, who pleaded not guilty, appealed the severity of the sentence. Mr Justice George Birmingham dismissed the appeal, stating the abuse began around the time of the victim's first communion and occurred roughly four or five times a week, amounting to "in excess of a couple of hundred times." He noted aggravating factors such as the sibling relationship, the duration spanning a significant part of the victim's childhood, and the frequency of abuse. The judge's approach of imposing a substantial sentence on one count while considering the others was deemed permissible, and the appeal was rejected. The sentence remained within the maximum 10‑year scale.
In the trial of a 29‑year‑old man accused of raping a 22‑year‑old friend in a Dublin flat on 28 September 2008, the defendant pleaded not guilty. He claimed he had been sleep‑walking at the time of the alleged offence. The complainant, who was a platonic friend, described how she had slept in the flat after a night out, woke an hour and a half later to find the accused on top of her with his penis inside her. She initially did not report the incident, hoping he would receive help, but later changed her mind after feeling he was not taking it seriously. She testified that she had spoken to a garda about the complaint process and had received advice that victims might regret reporting. The defendant's mother testified that he had a long‑standing sleep‑walking problem and had been searching for "sleep sex" online in the days after the alleged offence.
Martin Stokes, 25, of Corkhill, Kinnegad, was convicted of defilement of a child under 15 and rape of a 14‑year‑old girl in Westmeath on 3 June 2011. He pleaded not guilty, denied knowledge of the girl, and later claimed the encounter was consensual. A Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty on all counts and sentenced him to 12 years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended by Mr Justice Carroll Moran on 7 August 2015. Stokes has now lodged an appeal against his conviction on grounds that his right to silence was undermined, medical evidence was mishandled, and extracts from Garda tapes portrayed him as "belligerent". His barrister, Padraig Dwyer SC, argued that inconsistencies in medical evidence were treated as mere defence points and that the jury was misled by the victim's cross‑examination responses. He also contended that hearsay evidence of Stokes acting threateningly the day after the incident was improperly admitted.
In a 2016 trial at the Central Criminal Court, a 29‑year‑old man pleaded not guilty to a single count of raping a woman in Dublin on 28 September 2008. He claimed he was sleep‑walking and had no conscious memory of the act. The prosecution described the alleged incident: the couple, former university friends, had travelled to Dublin, stayed at a friend's apartment, drank, and then slept in a shared bedroom. The woman, fully dressed, woke to find the man on top of her. She testified that he thrust repeatedly, that she asked him to stop, and that he later apologized. The man was interviewed by Gardaí the following year, stating he had no recollection and only a vague memory of being asked about a condom.
The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment on whether a trial of a man who worked voluntarily in a children's home run by a religious order in Dublin from 1974 should proceed. The case involves historic sexual abuse allegations, including rape, made by several complainants. The indictment was amended before the trial, shifting alleged offence dates for the first two complainants while leaving the third unchanged. After the jury was sworn, the accused's barrister, Caroline Biggs SC, applied for rulings to stop the trial, amend the indictment, or exclude the complainants' evidence. The trial judge denied these applications, suggesting prohibition could be sought. A High Court judgment in February refused leave to seek prohibition, and the matter now rests with the Court of Appeal. Ms Biggs argued the High Court used the wrong test and that the complainants' statements could not be true, citing incorrect original dates. The Court of Appeal will decide on Thursday.
A 77‑year‑old man was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for indecent assault and sexual assault on his grand‑niece between 1987 and 1991, when she was aged 10 to 14. The jury found him guilty of three counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual assault. The victim, now 39, reported the abuse to Gardaí in 2010 and described the impact in a victim impact statement, citing nightmares, depression, panic attacks and a sense of being owned. She also detailed the abuse occurring in her grandparents' house in Dublin. The judge noted the man had no prior convictions and that the sentence would occupy a significant part of his life. The man now lives a lonely, isolated life.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 39‑year‑old woman testified that she underwent breast‑reduction surgery costing €6,000 after enduring sexual abuse by her granduncle between 1987 and 1992, when she was aged 8 to 13. She described ongoing nightmares, flashbacks, insomnia, depression, panic attacks and a persistent sense of unease, especially when receiving compliments from her husband. The victim also recounted a 21st‑birthday party where the granduncle appeared uninvited, "destroyed her life" and danced as if nothing had happened. She said she had previously reported the abuse to Gardaí in 2010, was hospitalised for five days due to stress‑related hearing loss, and had suicidal thoughts. The granduncle, now 77, was found guilty of three counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual assault, and was remanded in custody pending sentencing on 3 October 2016.
A 21-year-old Louth man who raped a 15-year-old family friend has been sentenced to eight years in prison. The now 23-year-old accused, who cannot be named to protect his victim's identity, was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury following a trial earlier this month of rape and defilement of the girl at his home between the 4th and 5th of October 2014. He has no previous convictions and is maintaining his innocence of the charges. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy was asked to partially suspend the sentence but refused, noting that there were no mitigation factors in favour of the man. The matter was adjourned for the purpose of the court considering the application for a suspended sentence, but the judge ultimately refused the request. The victim, in her impact statement, described the emotional and psychological effects of the crime on her life, including trust issues, difficulties with schoolwork, and sleep disturbances. The accused's defence counsel submitted testimonials from family members, work and sports clubs, highlighting his character as a good father, hardworking, friendly, and a positive influence in the lives of young people. Counsel also noted that cannabis had been a significant part of the accused's life at the time and asked the court to consider that the aggravating circumstances present in other cases were absent in this case.
A 69‑year‑old Cork pensioner was sentenced to 18 years' imprisonment for raping and sexually abusing his step‑daughter between 1974 and 1979. The victim, now 53, gave birth to two of his children after being raped from the age of 11. She reported the abuse to Gardaí in 2013, after her father's death, when the defendant had moved in with her mother and siblings and later married her mother. The abuse included weekly sexual intercourse, rape in the garden shed, and a pregnancy at 15, which she concealed by claiming a work colleague was the father. The defendant had no employment and was an alcoholic. He pleaded guilty to 18 counts of rape and sexual abuse. Judge Tony Hunt imposed an 18‑year sentence, suspending the final six years; the defendant is currently serving a four‑year term for earlier indecent assault offences against the victim's siblings.
In a Central Criminal Court case, a 38‑year‑old man from Cork pleaded guilty to raping and sexually assaulting his 19‑year‑old daughter in July 2014. He claimed that an evil spirit, allegedly sent by his brother, possessed him and compelled him to commit the offences. After the assault, he reported the incident to Gardaí and later admitted the crime to a psychiatrist, describing an overwhelming sense of energy and possession. The court heard that the daughter was forced into sexual acts, threatened with a knife, and coerced into removing her clothing. The defendant had no prior convictions and denied any psychiatric illness. Judge Tony Hunt sentenced him to ten years, suspending the last four, resulting in a six‑year custodial term.
In a sentencing hearing at the Central Criminal Court, a 36‑year‑old man read a victim impact statement about the sexual abuse he endured as a child, which he said led to a serious heroin addiction, a dangerous crack habit and four suicide attempts. He described how the abuse began the day before he started secondary school, leaving him confused, doubting his sexuality and blaming himself for years. He said he eventually overcame his drug addiction but the pain returned, and his last suicide attempt in 2014 was averted by his family and wife. He disclosed the abuse in 2011, began counselling soon after, and continues weekly sessions. He concluded that the abuse caused lasting damage but he hopes to move on. The statement was read during the sentencing of Joseph Anderson, who was jailed for six years for raping and molesting the boy between 1992 and 1995. Joseph Anderson pleaded not guilty and was convicted.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Mr Justice Robert Eagar sentenced a 23‑year‑old man to five years' imprisonment, with three and a half years suspended, for raping and sexually abusing his cousin from age 12 to 6. The judge emphasised that families must report such abuse promptly, noting the victim's family and grandparents failed to alert Gardaí or social services in 2007, a mistake he called "grave." The court heard the victim endured self‑harm, suicide attempts and severe distress, only reporting the abuse to Gardaí at 14. The accused had pleaded guilty to multiple sex assault and rape charges but denied rape. The judge warned that if the offences had been committed as an adult, the sentence could have been at least ten years. The case highlighted the need for immediate reporting to protect children and ensure timely legal intervention.
A retired guesthouse owner has been sentenced to 18 months imprisonment following his conviction for the sexual abuse of his young niece during a 1985 summer visit from America. John Prior, aged 68, of Orchard Lane, Herbert Park, Ballsbridge, Dublin, was convicted on two counts of indecent assault at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The offences occurred at Hartley House, Merrion Road, between July and August 1985, when the victim was eleven years old and staying with relatives in Leitrim and Dublin. Prior had initially denied five counts of indecent assault, but a jury failed to reach verdicts on three remaining charges following trial earlier this month. The now 42-year-old victim provided evidence of two separate incidents and subsequently reported suffering post-traumatic stress disorder. Judge Nolan noted the case involved assaults with profound effects on the victim and significant family disruption. The judge acknowledged Prior's charitable contributions but found he had abused his position of trust. Prior has no previous convictions.
A 41‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to eight years in prison, with the final 12 months suspended, for raping his nephew's wife while she slept beside her husband and toddler in a caravan park on 7 March 2014. The victim, who was half‑asleep and on medication, was assaulted by the defendant, who claimed he was looking for money for a taxi fare at about 3 a.m. He entered the caravan intoxicated and, after the victim's husband was asleep, the defendant raped the woman. The victim woke the next morning, discovered the assault, and went to the Rape Crisis Centre. During the four‑day trial, the defendant pleaded not guilty. The jury found him guilty, and the judge ordered him to stay away from the victim and her family for five years post‑release and to be supervised by Probation Services for 12 months. The unnamed 41-year-old was convicted.
Martin Stokes, 25, of Corkhill, Kinnegad, was convicted in 2015 of defilement of a child under 15 and rape of a 14‑year‑old girl in a field in Westmeath on 3 June 2011. A jury found him guilty on all counts. He received a 12‑year sentence, with the final two years suspended by Mr Justice Carroll Moran on 7 August 2015. Stokes has lodged an appeal against conviction and a separate appeal against sentence. The conviction appeal was adjourned to 5 October 2016 after a late submission from the Director of Public Prosecutions. Martin Stokes pleaded not guilty.
The trial of Sean Davy, James Davy, and Matthew Cummins for the alleged murder of 64-year-old Thomas "Toddy" Dooley continues before Justice Margaret Heneghan. All three accused have pleaded not guilty to killing Mr. Dooley at his home in Edenderry, Co Offaly, on February 12, 2014. The jury heard that during an interview, Matthew Cummins stated that Sean Davy claimed the deceased had raped his cousin. Evidence presented included a text message allegedly received by James Davy from Chloe McBride, identified as the deceased's granddaughter, which read: "Toddy a rapist. I never going there again." Prosecutors suggested this indicated a pre-planned motive. However, Detective Garda Joe Hughes agreed with defense counsel that Mr. Dooley had never come to the attention of gardai and that there were no concerning rumors regarding him. Cummins testified that he believed the group was entering the house to drink and was unaware of any plan to attack. He stated he was too afraid to call an ambulance or alert police immediately after the incident. The court noted that the matter was adjourned and the trial continues.
Anthony Hussey, aged 26, was convicted of raping a 73‑year‑old woman in her home on 20 September 2014. He entered the house wearing a balaclava, claimed his boss forced him, and sexually assaulted the victim both vaginally and anally. Hussey pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court. Judge Patrick McCarthy sentenced him to 13 years' imprisonment, back‑dated to his 2014 custody, and imposed a five‑year post‑release supervision order. The judge noted the victim's courage and the seriousness of the offence, while considering Hussey's apology, good character and guilty plea in determining the sentence. The case was heard in the Central Criminal Court, with the judge's remarks and the victim's impact statement recorded in the proceedings.
A 25‑year‑old Wexford man was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for defilement of a 13‑year‑old girl, the sister of his former girlfriend. He pleaded guilty on the morning of his trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The offence occurred at his home on 2 March 2010, when he was 19. The man was found to have the defendant's DNA on the girl's underwear, and forensic evidence confirmed sexual contact. He denied any sexual contact during police interviews, claiming the girl had approached him and that they had been "sitting shoulder to shoulder" on the couch. The judge, Patrick McCartan, noted the significant age gap and that the girl was "young and impressionable" and that there was "nothing approaching consent." The final two years of the sentence were suspended on strict conditions. The man has 42 prior convictions, including possession of knives, drugs and theft offences, and has not been in contact with Gardaí since 2010.
In Dublin Central Criminal Court a 42‑year‑old man was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment for threatening, assaulting and raping his wife during a marital breakdown in 2014. The judge described the assaults as "cowardly" and "brutal" and noted that the rape was committed in the context of a marital breakdown but was not excused. The man had been convicted of rape, threats to kill, assault, and an earlier attempt to cause serious harm. He received a 12‑year sentence for rape with the final two years suspended, and lesser concurrent sentences for the other counts. The victim, who had sought a separation, endured repeated threats, a petrol‑covered living room, a knife threat, a rape in a spare bedroom, and a hammer attack that left her bloodied and unconscious. She reported the violence to the court and described the lasting impact on her sense of power and safety. The unnamed 42-year-old pleaded guilty.
A 16‑year‑old boy was sentenced to four years detention, with the final year suspended, for sexually abusing his half‑sister over a six‑month period in 2014. He pleaded guilty to 13 counts, including rape, anal rape, oral rape and sexual abuse. The court heard the boy was 14 and the sister was aged eight to nine at the time of the abuse, which took place in their family home in a midlands town. The prosecution described the boy's acts as raping, anally penetrating and forcing oral sex on the girl. The abuse ceased when the sister confided in her parents, who confronted the boy and reported him to the Gardaí. The judge noted the abuse was frequent, extensive and serious, and imposed the sentence on strict conditions. The court heard the sister's victim impact statement, describing her ongoing distress and confusion about family life. The defence highlighted the family's support and the boy's remorse and counselling.
Tony Walsh, a former priest aged 62, was sentenced by Judge Elma Sheahan to seven and a half years' imprisonment for raping a boy three times, including once with a crucifix. The offences, committed between 1980 and 1982 when the maximum penalty was two years, were treated as indecent assault under the Criminal Law (Rape) Amendment 1990, which allows up to 14 years for sexual assault of a child under 17. Walsh pleaded not guilty to five counts of indecent assault but was found guilty on all counts. The judge imposed consecutive sentences: two years for the rape, 15 months for the remaining indecent assault charges, and an additional 15 months for the other two charges, with the total term reduced by one year for prior convictions. Walsh's sentence is back‑dated to his conviction last month, making him eligible for release in June 2023.
A 29‑year‑old foreign national was sentenced to six years' imprisonment after he black‑mailed a 13‑year‑old girl from his community into having sex with him. He had obtained a photograph that the girl had sent to another man; the photo was not nude but was considered "compromising" because it could cause cultural problems if her family learned of it. The man pleaded guilty to three counts of defilement of a child between September and November 2012. Judge Patrick McCarthy noted the offences had a "squalidity" and had caused considerable difficulty for the girl, who had not received family support. He imposed a two‑year sentence for each count, making the sentences consecutive so the offender would be punished for all three offences. The case was reported to Gardaí in December 2012, leading to the man's arrest and interview.
In 2016, a Dublin woman, aged 46, was beaten by her husband with a hammer and later raped. She thanked a passer‑by who set the husband's dog on him, chasing him away. The husband, 42, was convicted of rape, threatening to kill, and assault. He pleaded guilty to attempting serious harm and assaulting the victim's mother. During the sentencing hearing, the victim described fearing murder in front of her four‑year‑old son and the husband's "absolute determination" to kill her. The court noted the husband's low risk of future violence but the victim remained terrified of his release. He was remanded in custody until the sentencing date. The case was the third marital‑rape conviction since the 1990 law change. The victim's impact statement detailed lasting trauma and fear for herself and her son.
An 81‑year‑old man was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment by a Central Criminal Court jury after being found guilty of raping and sexually assaulting his niece in August 1971 in County Clare. He had denied the charges. The court also recalled a previous conviction by another Central Criminal Court jury, which had sentenced him to four and a half years for 11 counts of indecent assault on two daughters between 1971 and 1980; both girls were aged 11 to 13 at the time. The victim, now 56, testified that she was 11 when first raped, describing the assault in detail and the subsequent pain. She also recounted a second incident involving molestation while she was out shooting rabbits. The accused had left Ireland, was returned under a European Arrest Warrant in 2012, and had been granted bail pending trial. The victim's impact statement highlighted the lasting trauma, noting that she no longer wishes to be a victim.
The High Court will hear arguments on how the UK's impending exit from the EU may affect the extradition of a 78‑year‑old Irish man facing 10 alleged offences in the UK, including rape and child indecency. The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was arrested in October 2015 under a European Arrest Warrant and has been on bail. His barrister, Patrick Gageby SC, has moved to amend the client's grounds of objection, arguing that Brexit could undermine the fair‑trial rights that rely on the UK's continued EU membership. Justice Minister counsel Ronan Kennedy BL countered that the UK remains an EU member until Article 50 is invoked, and that speculative arguments about future status are inadmissible. Justice Donnelly allowed the motion to be considered as a preliminary issue, with the hearing scheduled for 29 July.
A 66‑year‑old musician was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment for raping and sexually assaulting his stepdaughter between 1994 and 2000. He pleaded not guilty to one count of rape, one count of oral rape and 27 counts of sexual assault. The jury found him guilty on all counts. The victim, aged between 10 and 16 at the time, first reported the abuse to Gardaí in May 2012. The abuse occurred frequently in the family home and car, with the accused forcing the girl to touch him and perform oral sex while he was bedridden. The victim was raped in June 2000 while her mother was away. The court heard the abuse caused severe anxiety, panic attacks, depression and suicidal thoughts. The unnamed 66-year-old was convicted.
A retired consultant surgeon, Dr Michael Shine, aged 83, faces trial in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for eight charges of indecent assault against six victims, with incidents dating from November 1964 to June 1991. Judge Melanie Greally set the trial for 2 October 2017, following a pre‑trial hearing on 7 July 2017. Shine remains remanded on continuing bail, and the trial is expected to last two weeks.
A man has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment, with the final year suspended for three years, at the Central Criminal Court for the sexual abuse of his daughter over a decade-long period. The 50-year-old pleaded guilty to two attempted rapes and ten sexual assaults committed between 2003 and 2012 at the family farm and surrounding areas in County Sligo. The abuse began when the victim was five years old and occurred almost daily. The court heard the man had been diagnosed as a paedophile by a psychiatrist following an assessment linked to an addiction to pornography. The victim, now twenty, first disclosed the abuse to her school chaplain at seventeen. Mr Justice Tony Hunt ordered the man be registered as a sex offender and undergo eighteen months post-release supervision. The court noted there were other victims within the family beyond the primary complainant.
In July 2016 the Central Criminal Court sentenced a 67‑year‑old Kerry man to 13 years' imprisonment for raping and sexually assaulting his daughter and two granddaughters between 1995 and 2014. The court noted the abuse spanned two generations, with the youngest victim aged six to nine and the older granddaughter aged nine to ten. The defendant admitted using a condom during the rape of the younger granddaughter while babysitting. He also confessed to assaulting his daughter between ages ten and fourteen, including touching her breasts and forcing her to touch his genitals. He pleaded guilty to all charges, had no prior convictions, and was described as a "wolf in sheep's clothing." The judge imposed consecutive sentences totaling 13 years, with the defendant now estranged from his family. The court heard victim impact statements from the daughter and the youngest grandchild, who reported the abuse after a school "Stay Safe" program.
In County Clare, a 26‑year‑old man was originally sentenced to 18 years' imprisonment for serial sodomisation of a six‑year‑old girl between 2009 and 2012, with five years suspended. His appeal argued the starting point was too high. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice George Birmingham, found the original 18‑year sentence "out of line" with comparable cases and recommended a 15‑year starting point. The judge then reduced the sentence to 12 years, suspending the final two years for the rape offences. A separate eight‑year sentence was imposed for the sexual assault count, to run concurrently, and two years of post‑release supervision were added. The defendant entered a good‑behaviour bond and agreed to comply with it. The decision reflects the court's assessment of the plea, the defendant's youth, family circumstances, and progress in prison. The unnamed 26-year-old pleaded guilty.
A 62‑year‑old Dublin man, whose name cannot be disclosed, pleaded guilty in the Central Criminal Court to 11 counts of indecent assault on two girls between 1978 and 1987. He was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment by Mr Justice Paul Carney on 27 February 2014. His barrister, Caroline Biggs SC, has now filed an appeal against the sentence, arguing that the judge erred in structuring the sentence and failed to consider significant mitigating factors. Ms Biggs contends that the starting point of the sentence before mitigation was unclear, that consecutive sentences were unnecessary, and that the maximum penalty for the offences should have been ten years rather than the two years believed. She also notes that the defendant had no prior convictions, was rendered homeless for four years, and that a psychological report indicating remorse was ignored.
In the Central Criminal Court, Marta Herda, aged 29, is on trial for the murder of 31‑year‑old Csaba Orsas. The prosecution alleges that on 26 March 2013, Herda drove Orsas into a harbour at South Quay, Arklow, where he drowned. During the trial, a paramedic testified that he was called to the quay at about 6.15 a.m. and found Herda soaked, cold and shivering, with white foam in her mouth. He treated her for hypothermia and transported her to hospital. While in the ambulance, Herda repeatedly said that Orsas "shouldn't have been there" and that she had driven the car into the water. A witness, Christina Byrne, claimed to have heard Herda shout that she had been raped, but her statement was cross‑examined and the court noted uncertainty about the words. The case remains at the trial stage.