Francis McLoughlin and Brian Wynne, otherwise Bernard, have had their appeals against convictions for historical sexual abuse adjourned. The men were found guilty by a jury at Sligo Circuit Criminal Court of indecently assaulting young boys in a period ending in January 1973. McLoughlin, who was found guilty of assaulting two boys, was sentenced to four years imprisonment with the final six months suspended. Wynne, who pleaded not guilty to assaulting one boy, received a wholly suspended two-year sentence. Both sentences were imposed by Judge Petria McDonnell on October 13, 2014. In their appeals, counsel argued that the convictions were unsafe due to trial mismanagement, including the refusal to order separate trials and issues regarding system evidence and corroboration. McLoughlin's lawyer contended that his client was prejudiced by being tried alongside Wynne, while Wynne's counsel highlighted the lack of system evidence in his client's case and alleged the trial judge inverted the burden of proof. The Director of Public Prosecutions countered that the alleged system of abuse was unusual and that Wynne was part of that system. The Court of Appeal, comprising Mr Justice George Birmingham, Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan, and Mr Justice Alan Mahon, reserved its judgment, meaning the matter was adjourned and not concluded.
A 48‑year‑old Dublin man was jailed for three‑and‑a‑half years, with the last six months suspended, after pleading guilty to assault causing harm to a woman he had met to use heroin. The assault took place on 16 April 2012 in the woman's apartment in Rathmines, where the man repeatedly struck her with various objects, including an air‑freshener can. The victim was left with extensive bruising on her thighs, abdomen, lower spine and arms, and she later claimed the attack left her homeless and worsened her psychiatric and substance‑use problems. The judge noted the man had 12 prior convictions, including an attempted rape, and that the offence was at the most serious end of the scale. The sentence was back‑dated to July 2012, allowing credit for time already served.
The Central Criminal Court heard that a 64‑year‑old father and a 38‑year‑old mother, both from the UK, will not be sentenced before October. They were convicted in May after a seven‑week trial that heard dozens of allegations of horrific sexual abuse against their young son. The jury found the father guilty of nine counts of raping his son from the age of six and of child cruelty, but acquitted him of raping the child with a poker. The mother was convicted of child cruelty but found not guilty of sex assault relating to allegations that she had sex or simulated sex with her child when he was between six and seven. The offences occurred between 2009 and 2011 in their Waterford home. The parents had originally faced 82 charges, but 60 were withdrawn. The mother was due to be sentenced today, but a psychological report on her was not ready.
A 54‑year‑old man was sentenced to 12 years in prison for raping and sexually abusing his three step‑children. The Central Criminal Court imposed two concurrent 12‑year terms: one for abuse of the two youngest children and another for abuse of the eldest child. The judge noted that the man, who moved to Ireland from abroad and began a relationship with the children's mother, denied all allegations and maintained his innocence, which the court considered a mitigating factor. The eldest child, aged 11‑15 at the time of the offences, was convicted of four counts of rape, ten counts of sexual assault, one oral rape and two counts of using an object to penetrate her between 2001 and 2005. The other two children, aged 7‑13 and 11‑17, were convicted of 35 counts of sexual assault and rape. The sentences will run concurrently. The man continues to deny the abuse.
In a 13‑day trial at the Central Criminal Court, a 42‑year‑old man was convicted of raping his wife in their home in May 2014 and of threatening to cut her face with a carving knife the day before. He was also found guilty of threatening to kill her over the phone the following day. The jury could not reach verdicts on charges that he head‑butted her in May 2014 and threatened to do "serious damage" to her when they met to discuss custody of their son. The accused denied the rape and other allegations, claiming jealousy over his wife's career and a sense of being excluded by her family. He had previously pleaded guilty to assault with a hammer in August 2014. Justice Isobel Kennedy ordered his registration as a sex offender and remanded him in custody for sentencing on 18 July. The unnamed 42 year old pleaded not guilty.
A 42‑year‑old man was found guilty by a jury of threatening to cut his wife's face open with a cleaver on 25 May 2014, a threat he denied, claiming he only held a butter knife while making a sandwich. The jury is still deliberating on allegations that he ordered her upstairs that night and raped her, as well as on charges of assault causing harm and four other threats to kill or cause serious harm between May and August 2014. The trial noted that the couple's marriage was under stress, with the man unhappy about the wife's career and time spent with their infant son. He had previously pleaded guilty to assaulting his wife with a hammer in August 2014 and pleaded not guilty to the rape, assault and threat charges.
The Court of Appeal has adjourned the appeal against conviction lodged by Michael Murray, a 44-year-old man formerly of Killiney, Dublin, who was found guilty in 2013 of rape, attempted rape, oral rape, aggravated sexual assault, child abduction, threats to kill, false imprisonment, and theft. Murray was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment for offences committed in February 2010. The Director of Public Prosecutions is seeking a review of this sentence on grounds that it was "unduly lenient." Mr Justice Birmingham stated that, given Murray's apparent lack of enthusiasm for his conviction appeal, the court may proceed with the DPP's undue leniency application first, departing from the normal practice of hearing conviction appeals before sentence appeals. The matter was put in for case management on Friday. Separately, Murray's earlier appeal against the dismissal of his High Court action against the Irish Prison Service and the Minister for Justice was dismissed by the Court of Appeal in March. That action concerned the recording of his prison telephone calls; both courts found the recording inappropriate but noted it was made inadvertently and not accessed, awarding costs against Murray.
A 66‑year‑old musician, whose name is withheld to protect the victim, was found guilty of 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, but the jury convicted him on all counts. The victim, aged between 10 and 16 at the time, first reported the abuse to the gardai 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 most serious incident was a rape in June 2000, after which the accused gave her a bottle of Jack Daniels and told her not to inform her mother. The victim suffered anxiety, panic attacks, flashbacks, depression and suicidal thoughts, and felt blamed for the abuse.
A jury of one woman and eleven men has begun deliberations on the verdict in the trial of a 42‑year‑old man accused of raping, head‑butting and threatening to kill his wife. The accused had previously pleaded guilty to assaulting his wife with a hammer in August 2014. He denies the rape, head‑butting and threats, claiming the marriage was breaking down over the previous five months. The jury was instructed to start deliberations after a summary of evidence from Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy on day eleven of the trial. The unnamed 42 year old pleaded not guilty.
In a 2016 trial, a 42‑year‑old man was accused of raping his wife during a marital breakdown. He pleaded not guilty to rape, assault causing harm, and four threat counts, while a fifth threat count was directed to a not‑guilty verdict. Defence counsel Padraig Dwyer urged jurors to consider possible motives for the wife's allegations, citing revenge, bitterness, desire, custody or property concerns. He noted the accused admitted assaulting his wife with a hammer months after the alleged rape, arguing this should not influence other charges. Prosecuting counsel Mary Rose Gearty highlighted alleged inconsistencies in the wife's testimony, including fabricated claims of head‑butting and petrol dousing, and questioned her credibility. The trial proceeded before Justice Isobel Kennedy and a jury.
Lee Wainwright, a former assistant manager at the Corralea Court Hotel in Tuam, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for raping a young woman in 2014. The victim, in her early twenties, was attending a hotel event when Wainwright escorted her to a room and later forced sex on her while she was asleep. He initially denied the rape, claiming a medical condition prevented him from having sex, but later pleaded guilty after DNA evidence linked him to the victim. Mr Justice Paul Butler imposed a six‑year term with the final two years suspended, noting the offence's seriousness and Wainwright's good work record and lack of prior convictions. The court heard the victim's impact statement describing the lasting psychological harm and the loss of trust caused by the assault. Wainwright's counsel read an apology letter to the victim and her family. The sentence reflects the judge's view that substantial custodial punishment is necessary in rape cases.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 22 June 2016, a 42‑year‑old man accused of raping and assaulting his wife denied any abusive conduct towards Gardaí who passed him in the courtroom. He had spent the seventh day of his trial giving evidence in his own defence, where he denied raping, threatening and head‑butting his wife during a marital breakdown in 2014. He had previously pleaded guilty to assaulting his wife with a hammer in August 2014 and expressed deep remorse. Prosecutor Mary Rose Gearty SC questioned him about allegedly calling the Gardaí "you fucker"; he denied this and claimed the officers had broken two of his ribs during his arrest. He also denied other alleged acts such as head‑butting, threatening to cut her face, and lying on top of her to rape her. The unnamed 42 year old pleaded not guilty.
A 69‑year‑old man, a trusted figure in his Cork community, was remanded pending sentencing after pleading guilty to three counts of sexual abuse of two boys between January and May 1991. The younger victim, now 30, was five at the time and was abused in a camper van where the accused lured him with treats and performed oral sex. The older victim, now 40, was 14 when the accused asked him to drive a van home from a pub; while the boy sat on his lap, the accused ripped his trousers and molested him, causing the boy to lose control of the van. Both victims described the accused as a trusted community member. The court noted the accused's 48 prior convictions, including a four‑month sentence in England, and he remains in custody until a sentencing hearing on 2 July 2024.
The 42‑year‑old accused of rape, assault and threats against his wife told Gardaí that "black magic" had been used on their relationship. He claimed he had been cursed in his native country by someone who wanted the marriage to end so he could marry that person's daughter. He pleaded not guilty to rape, assault causing harm and five counts of threatening to kill or cause serious harm between 24 May and 1 August 2014, and had previously pleaded guilty to assaulting his wife with a hammer in August 2014. During Garda interviews he denied raping or threatening his wife, said he had shoved her once but denied head‑butting or telling her he would kill her, and admitted attacking her with a hammer outside her parents' home on a later date.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a woman accused a Dublin garda of failing to investigate her complaints about alleged rape, assault and threats by her husband. She said the husband raped her in May 2014, threatened to cut her face with a knife, and on 8–9 June 2014 threatened her, harassed her and crashed into her car, prompting a complaint to gardaí. She expressed dissatisfaction with the handling of her complaint, noting that a different station took over the investigation in August 2014 after the husband assaulted her with a hammer. She claimed the garda had not followed up or taken the complaint seriously. The husband pleaded not guilty to rape, assault causing harm and five counts of threats to kill or cause serious harm, but had pleaded guilty to assault with a hammer. The trial continues before Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy and a jury.
A man in his fifties appeared before the Central Criminal Court in relation to serious sexual offences committed against his daughter over a decade-long period at the family farm in County Sligo. The defendant pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted rape and ten counts of sexual assault committed between 2003 and 2012. The prosecution indicated these charges were representative of thirty-seven total offences. The victim, now aged twenty, disclosed the abuse to her school chaplain at seventeen years old. During proceedings, she provided a victim impact statement describing the systematic nature of the abuse and its profound psychological effects. A psychiatric assessment concluded the defendant presented as a paedophile. Mr Justice Tony Hunt remanded the man in custody pending sentencing on 11 July, stating he required time to consider the case carefully given the gravity of the offences and concerns regarding rehabilitation and public safety.
In a rape trial, a woman alleged her husband raped her in their home while their son slept downstairs. She had obtained a barring order from the District Court but was told by the judge that she must facilitate access for her husband to their child. She said she arranged meetings in public places for safety. She did not use the word "rape" when applying for the order, finding it difficult. The accused, 42, pleaded not guilty to rape, assault causing harm and five counts of threats to kill or cause serious harm between May 24 and August 1, 2014, and had previously pleaded guilty to assaulting his wife with a hammer in August 2014. The trial, before Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy and a jury of eleven men and one woman, heard the woman's statements about her fear, attempts to leave, and the judge's instructions to maintain contact for their son's access. The case remains ongoing.
An ex‑soldier aged 42, whose lawyers argued that indecent proposals or behaviour did not amount to sexual assault, had his appeal against a court‑martial dismissed by the Court of Appeal. He had been convicted on a charge of sexual assault and four charges of conduct contrary to good order and discipline at Aiken Barracks, Dundalk, on 30 October 2013. The Defence Force board imposed penalties ranging from fines to detention and discharge. In the appeal, the barrister contended that indecent proposals or behaviour do not constitute a sexual assault. Justice Alan Mahon rejected this, describing the victim's account of the soldier's repeated unwanted advances, including entering a female changing area and shower cubicle while undressed, exposing himself, and the victim's feelings of fear, discomfort and violation. The Court of Appeal found the evidence sufficient to uphold the original conviction and dismissed the appeal. The former soldier remains on continuing bail pending his sentence hearing.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 42‑year‑old man accused of raping his wife pleaded not guilty to rape, assault causing harm and five counts of threats to kill or cause serious harm between 24 May and 1 August 2014. He had previously pleaded guilty to assaulting his wife with a hammer in August 2014. The wife testified that the accused threatened her repeatedly, saying "I can rape you if I want" and "I'm going to finish this tonight," and that he had called her while she was on holiday in Spain, claiming to know her location. She described incidents where he followed her, attempted to seize her keys, and crashed into her car at traffic lights. She also reported that he had installed apps on her phone without permission and turned on location services. The trial is before Justice Isobel Kennedy and a jury of eleven men and one woman.
In August 2010, a Dublin man aged 79 was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury of 87 counts of sexually assaulting and raping his two daughters, aged five to eleven, and assaulting his son, aged three to six, between 1997 and 2002. He denied the charges. Mr Justice George Birmingham sentenced him to life imprisonment on 4 October 2010 for the rape of his daughters and imposed additional determinate sentences for other offences. In October 2010 the Court of Appeal was informed that the man, who had appeared for his appeal, was too ill to attend the hearing. His appeal against conviction was dismissed in May 2011 by Mr Justice John Edwards, who described the trial as "satisfactory" and the conviction as "safe". The man died before he could appeal the severity of his life sentence, and the Court of Appeal struck out the appeal.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 42‑year‑old man was accused of threatening his wife with a knife and saying, "I can rape you if I want," before allegedly raping her on 25 May 2014. He had previously poured lighter fluid around the house while their child was present and had threatened to cut her face open. The wife, who had been arguing with him about ending the relationship, said he pushed her upstairs and raped her while naked. She claimed he told her, "The guards will never arrive in time, don't even think about it," and that he had said, "I can do this if I want; I can rape you if I want." She obtained a temporary barring order the next day. The unnamed 42 year old pleaded not guilty.
In a 2016 trial, a 42‑year‑old man faced charges of rape, assault, and multiple threats to kill his wife amid a deteriorating marriage. The prosecution alleged he threatened her with a knife after she announced she was leaving, raped her, and forced her to promise not to leave. He also allegedly threatened to kill her and used a hammer in a prior assault. The wife had obtained a barring order, yet the accused reportedly continued threats, including calling her "you're dead." The couple met occasionally to discuss their son, but meetings were tense and threats persisted. The accused pleaded not guilty to the current charges, having previously pleaded guilty to an assault with a hammer. The case proceeded before Justice Isobel Kennedy and a jury of eleven men and one woman.
A man from Clare has appealed an 18-year prison sentence imposed for the sexual abuse of a child over a three-year period. The 26-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to sample counts of rape and sexual assault of a girl between 2009 and 2012. The sentence, which included a five-year suspension, was handed down in July 2015. During the appeal hearing at the Court of Appeal, the defendant's counsel referenced a comparable case from Roscommon, arguing that the headline sentence was disproportionate when compared to similar convictions. The counsel submitted that an appropriate sentence range for such offending would be between ten and twelve years, particularly given the guilty plea entered. The Director of Public Prosecutions' counsel countered that the sentencing judge had correctly placed the case in the highest category, citing the severe and lasting impact on the victim. The Court of Appeal reserved judgement on the appeal.
Tony Walsh, a former "singing" priest, was convicted of indecent assault on a boy aged 10‑13 between 1980 and 1982. He pleaded not guilty to five counts but the jury found him guilty on all after a three‑day trial. The court heard that the boy described being forced to sit on Walsh's knee, having his trousers pulled down, and being fondled, with incidents involving a crucifix and alleged sexual acts. Walsh denied knowing the boy and claimed the allegations were false. He admitted to prior offences against children from 1980 to 1986, having served prison terms and undergone treatment, but maintained he had not re‑offended. The judge remanded him in custody for sentencing on 4 July. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
A Cavan man who raped his 16-year-old niece in early 1997 has been sentenced to six and a half years in prison, with three years of post-release supervision. The defendant, a 49-year-old man who cannot be named to protect the victim's identity, pleaded guilty to charges of rape, oral rape, and sexual assault. The Central Criminal Court heard that the victim's mother initially did not report the abuse to the gardaí, and the family was distressed when the girl eventually made a complaint. The victim described the impact of the abuse, stating that her world had crumbled and that her uncle had 'degraded and crushed' her. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy noted the man's guilty plea, his position of trust, and the severity of the offences. The judge also acknowledged the man's low risk of re-offending and his efforts to address alcohol dependency. The case was finalised at the sentence stage, with no adjournments.
A 66‑year‑old man who had pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual assault against his niece, aged five, six and eight between 2003 and 2006, was originally given a wholly suspended five‑year sentence by Judge Thomas Teehan on 17 December 2015. Prosecutors appealed, and the Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice George Birmingham, resentenced him to five years' imprisonment with the final four years suspended. The judge described the assaults as involving rubbing the victim's private parts inside her underwear when she was five, forced masturbation when she was six, and digital penetration when she was eight. He noted the victim's powerful impact report and the family's distress. The court acknowledged mitigating factors such as the man's early plea, good character, and remorse, but concluded that custodial time was necessary. The man was ordered to serve the custodial portion of his sentence and to comply with a good‑behaviour bond and restrictions on contact with minors.
A man from County Mayo has been sentenced to four and a half years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following his conviction on eight counts of indecent and sexual assault against his four young daughters. Bernard Cunningham, aged 66, was found guilty by unanimous jury verdict in April 2016 of offences committed between 1978 and 1992. He had pleaded not guilty to all charges. Judge Patrick McCartan stated that Cunningham had demonstrated an absolute absence of remorse and noted the victims endured what was described as a "horror of a home" involving sustained physical, mental and sexual abuse. The judge observed that character references describing Cunningham as kind and compassionate could not be reconciled with the evidence of his cruelty. During sentencing, the court acknowledged the victims' bravery in testifying, with one reporting lasting trauma including mental health difficulties. Cunningham's legal team highlighted recent health challenges but the judge emphasised the absence of any apology or acknowledgement of wrongdoing.
A Dublin man pleaded guilty to six counts of sexual assault and rape against a young girl, with offences dated between 10 October 2004 and 31 March 2007. He entered the pleas before a jury of eight men and four women, having previously denied one charge. The State accepted the pleas as representative, with full facts to be heard at a later sentencing hearing. Mr Justice Robert Eagar remanded the man on continuing bail until 28 July for sentencing, ordered a probation report, and noted that registration as a sex offender was automatic under the law.
In June 2016, an 18‑year‑old man from Wicklow was sentenced to six years in prison for raping two children, one of whom had Down Syndrome. He pleaded guilty to four counts of rape, one count of threatening to kill and one count of sexual assault committed between 20 June 2013 and 31 December 2014. The offences were described by Justice Patrick McCarthy as "of the utmost gravity" because they involved children and a child with a mental disability. The accused threatened to kill a victim to prevent reporting. The first victim, a boy aged ten at his first rape and eleven at the second, suffered a permanent scar and ongoing psychological harm. The second victim, a girl with Down Syndrome, reported that the accused kissed her and inserted his tongue into her mouth. She now self‑harms and distrusts men. The defendant, who had no prior convictions, was 15 when he first offended and has attempted suicide.
A 39‑year‑old Polish man, Jaroslaw Kupper, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to sexually assaulting a woman on 28 September 2013. The assault took place after the pair had met briefly a few weeks earlier in a Cork pub. On the night of the offence, Kupper and the woman kissed before moving to a nearby laneway where he became pushy and aggressive, grabbing her arm and pushing her to the ground. While she was on the ground he pulled down her jeans and underwear, and she screamed for help. A neighbour heard her cries and called the gardai. The victim described seeing Kupper's erect penis rubbing against her vagina for a few seconds before she managed to push it away. Kupper, a carpenter from Millbrook, Middleton, Cork, had no prior convictions and is married. The court heard that both he and the victim had been drinking.
The High Court has ordered the extradition of Padraig O'Callaghan to Northern Ireland to serve the remainder of a custodial sentence. In April 2014, O'Callaghan, of Crossmaglen, County Armagh, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment at Newry Crown Court after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting a 23-year-old woman in Newry on December 11, 2011. He also faced charges of false imprisonment and robbery, for which he has already served time. Counsel for the Minister of Justice and Equality stated that O'Callaghan is sought solely for the rape offence, with three years and ninety days remaining on his sentence. O'Callaghan, who was arrested in May 2016, testified that he had received legal advice and consented to his surrender. Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly confirmed his awareness of the consequences of serving his sentence under Northern Irish conditions. The judge ordered that O'Callaghan be detained for a period not exceeding twenty days to facilitate the extradition. An application for legal aid was subsequently granted.
In a Wicklow case, a 51‑year‑old man was sentenced to 21 years in prison, with the final seven years suspended, for raping and sexually assaulting two of his step‑sons hundreds of times over a ten‑year period. He also abused one boy with a device he created and forced the boys to commit incest with each other. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, described the evidence as "industrial quantities" and said the crimes had caused permanent, irreparable damage. The defendant pleaded guilty to 165 counts of rape and sexual assault against one boy and 40 similar offences against his brother between 1993 and 2003. He was ordered to be supervised by Probation Services for five years post‑release, undergo rehabilitation, and have no contact with the two boys. The anonymity orders remain in place for the time being. The victims, who have chosen to waive anonymity, gave moving evidence of the abuse.
A 49‑year‑old Laois man was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment after a jury convicted him of indecent assault on a girl aged between nine and eleven in a field between 1983 and 1985. The jury acquitted him of rape. The accused, who is married with children and has no prior convictions, denied the allegations. He has not been in the attention of the Gardaí since the offence. Justice Isobel Kennedy noted that the victim, now 42, had testified that the man forced her to perform oral sex and that her younger sibling witnessed him removing her clothing. She described the lasting impact of the abuse, including flashbacks and a period of alcohol use, and her subsequent sobriety and personal growth. The judge imposed the custodial sentence, while the defence argued for a non‑custodial outcome, citing the accused's responsible employment and changed life. The court accepted the custodial sentence.
Sharon Naughton, 38, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for assault causing harm to Brian Kenny after she threw boiling water and sugar on him, claiming he had offered her heroin. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that the incident occurred on 27 June 2015 in a flat on Prussia Street, where a confrontation between Naughton, her partner and Kenny escalated when the partner threatened Kenny with a knife. Naughton, who had a history of drug addiction and was reportedly the youngest person on a methadone programme at 15, admitted the attack and denied any sexual assault allegations. She expressed remorse, stating she should never have scalded anyone. Judge Karen O'Connor noted the assault was out of character due to drug influence and suspended the final 18 months of the sentence, citing medical treatment and a recommendation for custodial benefit. The court also heard that Kenny was left scarred and frightened by the attack. Sharon Naughton pleaded guilty.
A 46‑year‑old man was convicted of 18 counts of sexual assault against three women, with offences dated between 1997 and 2009. He pleaded not guilty and was found guilty by a jury at Wexford Circuit Criminal Court, receiving a three‑year prison sentence from Judge Alice Doyle on 10 June 2015. His barrister, Rosario Boyle SC, has lodged an appeal on several grounds, arguing that the trial judge failed to draw the jury's attention to key evidence. Boyle contends that one complainant admitted the abuse began in early 1999 and that the alleged abuse occurred in view of a nearby hatch, and that the jury should have considered whether abuse was likely under those circumstances. She also points to inconsistencies in the complainants' statements and a failure to inform the jury of prior allegations.
Anthony Hussey, 24, pleaded guilty to raping a 74‑year‑old woman in her home on 20 September 2014. He broke in wearing a balaclava, claimed his boss forced him, and forced the victim to the floor, removing her clothing and assaulting her vaginally and anally. He later told the victim she enjoyed it and covered her with a duvet before leaving. The victim's impact statement described her as sobbing, terrified, and feeling "broken" and "humiliated". Hussey was remanded in custody until 7 June for sentencing. He had no prior Garda record, was a bar manager, and had been registered as a sex offender when he entered his plea. The article reports the victim's emotional state and Hussey's apology letter, but no sentencing outcome is given.
In a Central Criminal Court case, a 37‑year‑old Meath man was convicted of sexual assault and anal rape of a girl aged 12‑14 who stayed at his family home between 1999 and 2001. The victim, who had not spoken out until becoming a mother, described the assaults as taking away her innocence and causing lasting trauma. She reported that the man began by touching her leg and rubbing her vagina, then forced her to masturbate him, and later inserted his penis into her anus, an act that caused her to cry. The assaults continued for months before she fled to avoid his presence. The man denied any misconduct. Mr Justice Tony Hunt sentenced him to seven‑and‑a‑half years, suspending the last two‑and‑a‑half years on the condition of good behaviour and no contact with the victim. The sentence reflected the severity of the offences and the absence of prior convictions.
A man acquitted of raping his partner was sentenced to two-and-a-half years' imprisonment for punching her in the face when she was seven months pregnant. He had pleaded guilty to assaulting her on 14 October 2015. The Central Criminal Court jury found him not guilty of rape and sexual assault. The victim described feeling worthless and powerless and reported recurring nightmares. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, described the offence as serious violence, noting the partner's pregnancy. He imposed a two-and-a-half year term, suspended the final nine months, and backdated it to the time the man entered custody in October.
A 38-year-old mother and her 64-year-old partner, both from the UK, faced sentencing following a seven-week trial in Waterford regarding alleged abuse of their son between 2009 and 2011. The jury convicted the mother of child cruelty, a general charge of allowing the abuse to occur at the hands of her partner, while acquitting her of two counts of sexual assault. The partner was convicted of nine counts of rape and child cruelty, though acquitted of nine counts of rape with a poker. Both defendants had pleaded not guilty. Mr Justice Robert Eagar remanded the mother in custody after Gardaí objected to bail, citing flight risk concerns as her partner was jailed. The partner was also remanded in custody. The mother is scheduled for sentencing on July 4, while the partner's sentencing is set for July 11. The child, now 12, remains in specialized care in the UK. The court noted the lack of corroborative evidence and inconsistencies in the child's testimony, which differed between his Gardaí statement and trial evidence regarding the mother's participation.
A jury in Waterford convicted a 64‑year‑old father of raping his six‑year‑old son and of one count of child cruelty for locking the boy in a box for six hours. The father was also found guilty of nine counts of rape with a poker, but acquitted of a charge involving a hot fire poker. The mother was acquitted of sexual assault and cruelty charges, though the jury was still deliberating on a single cruelty count against her. The trial, lasting seven weeks, heard allegations that the father filmed the child having sex with the mother, threatened to kill him, and defecated on him. The boy, who was taken into care before his eighth birthday, testified via video‑link from London, with special measures to protect his rights. No corroborating evidence such as a fire poker or videos of abuse was found during searches of the home. The unnamed 64 year old pleaded not guilty.
In a 2016 trial in Waterford, a jury heard that social workers failed to inform Gardaí that a boy had withdrawn allegations of sexual abuse by his parents. The boy had told a social worker in February 2015 that the claims—he was raped with a poker and forced to have sex with his mother—were "not real." Defence counsel Colman Cody SC argued that the retractions only reached Gardaí and the defence after a barrister discovered them in the child protection agency's files. Gardaí re‑interviewed the boy in February 2016 after learning of the retraction, and he then admitted the abuse had occurred. The parents faced 22 counts, with the father charged with nine counts of rape, nine counts of rape with a poker and one count of cruelty, and the mother charged with two counts of sexual assault and one count of cruelty. Both pleaded not guilty.
At the trial of a Waterford father and mother accused of sexually abusing their son, 60 of the original 82 charges were withdrawn, leaving 22 counts. The father now faces nine counts of raping the boy, nine counts of raping the boy with a poker, and one count of cruelty. The mother faces two counts of sexual assault and one count of cruelty. Both parents have pleaded not guilty to the allegations, which are alleged to have occurred between 2007 and 2011 in their Waterford home when the child was six. Mr Justice Robert Eagar stated the withdrawals resulted from legal issues and should not be viewed as a judgment on the veracity of the claims. Prosecuting counsel Pauline Walley SC delivered her closing speech, urging the jury to evaluate the evidence objectively despite the child's inconsistent testimony. She argued that the boy's detailed accounts and subsequent behavioral issues in care supported his credibility. The trial is in its final stages, with defence counsel scheduled to close their case tomorrow before the judge instructs the jury on the relevant legal issues.
An unnamed 16-year-old defendant appeared at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where he pleaded guilty to five counts of sexual assault in the Balbriggan area of Co Dublin. The charges relate to incidents involving four women and one teenage girl last year. The court heard that the first alleged assault occurred on January 20, 2015, when the teenager allegedly grabbed a 39-year-old woman walking to work. Subsequent alleged offences included an incident on January 24 involving a 19-year-old woman, an attack on a 34-year-old woman on January 26, an assault on a 14-year-old girl on February 1, and an incident involving a 35-year-old woman on February 5. The defendant was arrested on February 6, 2015, and admitted the offences during interview. Counsel Tara Burns SC submitted that the teenager had made strong efforts to address the matter. Judge Patrick McCartan imposed a sentence of 12 months detention, suspended for two years. The suspension is conditional upon the defendant completing the recovery programme in which he is currently participating.
The prosecution has finished presenting its case in a child‑abuse trial after six weeks of evidence. The case involves a boy who had alleged that his parents sexually abused him, including rape, use of a hot poker, forced incest and other violent acts, and that the father filmed some incidents. The boy, now 12, had previously retracted the allegations, claiming only physical abuse occurred, but later insisted the allegations were true and that he retracted them to avoid the trial. The guardian ad litem, an independent social worker, stated she did not believe the boy's retractions were genuine. The parents face 82 abuse charges between 2007 and 2011 and have pleaded not guilty to 16 counts each of sexual exploitation and one count of child cruelty. The trial will continue with legal arguments tomorrow and the defence may call evidence. The court will adjourn for lunch on Saturday if the weather is good.
In 2010, a 78‑year‑old Dublin man was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury of 87 counts of sexual assault and rape of his two daughters, aged five to eleven, and of assaulting his son, aged three to six, between 1997 and 2002. He denied the charges. Mr Justice George Birmingham sentenced him to life imprisonment for the rape of his daughters and imposed additional determinate sentences for other offences. In October 2016, the Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal on all grounds. Mr Justice John Edwards, sitting with Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan and Mr Justice Alan Mahon, found the trial satisfactory and the conviction safe. The appeal was dismissed after the appellant was too ill to attend the hearing, and his appeal against sentence was scheduled for June 16. The case had originally involved 113 counts, with the jury acquitting on two, failing to agree on seven, and returning not‑guilty verdicts on 17 further counts.
An ex‑soldier aged 42 was found guilty by a military court of sexual assault and four counts of conduct contrary to good order and discipline at Aiken Barracks, Dundalk, on 30 October 2013. The conviction was delivered by a board of Defence Force members and a Military Judge, Colonel Michael Campion, who imposed penalties ranging from fines to detention and discharge. The case arose after a Military Police member entered the gym sauna and was told by the soldier that advance notice was required. She later claimed he followed her into the women's shower and that she felt threatened. She had made handwritten notes of the incident, which were allegedly shredded and not presented to the defence. The soldier's barrister, Roderick O'Hanlon SC, argued that the notes were destroyed, depriving the defence of evidence. The soldier has now opened an appeal, and the court has reserved judgment on the matter.
A man from Cavan pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm and attempted sexual assault following an incident at a McDonald's restaurant on Grafton Street in June 2014. Adrian Smith, aged 33, of Curkish, Bailieboro, entered a ladies' toilet where a woman was present and attempted to sexually assault her before punching her in the face when she screamed for help. Smith initially fled but later turned himself in to gardaí after his parents identified him on the RTE programme Crimecall in September 2014. Judge Patrick McCartan described Smith's actions as "sinister in the extreme" and noted the significant trauma caused to the victim. The judge expressed concern about Smith's claims of intoxication, stating his behaviour showed calculated deliberation. Smith, who has offered €10,000 in compensation and joined the Pioneer Association, was remanded on bail pending sentencing in July 2016.
In a Waterford abuse trial, a jury heard that a sex tape featuring the accused parents and another woman was found in the house. The father claimed the allegations were a result of "brainwashing" by the health board, stating the boy's accusations were implanted. The boy had previously alleged that his father raped him, sexually abused him with a hot poker, and forced him to have sex with his mother over several years from about age six. He also claimed his father filmed some incidents, held a gun to his head, and locked him in a box. The parents face 82 abuse charges from 2007 to 2011. Both pleaded not guilty to 16 counts of sexual exploitation and one child cruelty charge each, while the mother denied 16 sexual assault counts and the father denied 16 anal rape and 16 sexual assault with a poker.
A man was jailed for 20 years after pleading guilty to raping his disabled son and producing child pornography. Europol's international operation traced an Irish user, leading Garda investigators to locate the man via an IP address. A March 2015 search of his home uncovered 12,427 images, including 5,500 involving his son, aged six to seven at the time. He admitted two counts of rape, ten of sexual assault, three of sexual exploitation, two of production of child porn, and one of possession. Judge Tony Hunt noted the breach of trust was magnified by the son's disability and the father's intent to create material for distribution. He cited the man's early guilty plea and remorse as mitigating factors, ordering five years of post‑release supervision and backdating the sentence to April 2015. The judge expressed deep sorrow over the abuse of a disabled child.
A man from Armagh has been sentenced to nine years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court following his conviction for sexually abusing his partner's daughter over a three-year period while the family lived in Monaghan. Darren Davidson, aged 37, was convicted in March 2016 of eleven counts including sexual assault with an object, sexual assault, and defilement. The offences occurred between 2008 and 2010 when the victim was aged thirteen to sixteen. Following interview with gardaí, Davidson emigrated to Australia but was subsequently arrested at Manchester Airport and extradited to Ireland. Mr Justice Robert Eagar imposed a ten-year sentence with the final year suspended, noting the victim displayed symptoms consistent with abuse by a trusted figure. He reduced the sentence from twelve years in light of Davidson's employment history and medical condition. The court ordered Davidson's registration as a sex offender. The adult victim, who waived anonymity, told the court she initiated the complaint to protect her siblings from further abuse.