The Court of Appeal has dismissed the appeal by Shane Noonan against his sentence for the rape of Ciara Mangan. The offence occurred at an address in Castlebar, Co Mayo, on May 11, 2013. Noonan, who was 18 at the time, pleaded guilty to the charge. At his sentencing in July 2023, Ms Justice Eileen Creedon imposed a headline sentence of eight years in prison, with the final 12 months suspended, resulting in an effective custody period of seven years. In his appeal, counsel for Noonan argued that the sentence was too high given his lack of prior convictions and the late entry of his guilty plea. However, the Director of Public Prosecutions contended that the plea was entered on the day of the trial and that the suspension period appropriately reflected mitigating factors. Mr Justice Michael McGrath, delivering the judgment, stated that Noonan's culpability was high and the harm to the victim was great. Consequently, the court ruled that the sentence was appropriate in the circumstances and dismissed the appeal. Ms Mangan, who waived her anonymity, stated that the 22-month wait for the appeal decision had delayed her healing, but she expressed relief that the process had finally concluded.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Eric Thomas, 49, was found guilty of false imprisonment and sexual assault of a teenage boy aged 14 or 15 between January 2004 and July 2006. Thomas, who has 34 prior convictions including ten for sexual assault, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended for two years under Probation Services supervision. The victim, who was a happy, class‑clown teenager, described feeling sick, dirty and scared after the assault, and said the incident changed his life, leading to aggression, drug use and a desire to leave. Thomas denied the allegations and claimed he had never known the victim. The court noted Thomas's history of mental health issues, rehabilitation efforts in prison, and his acceptance of the verdict. The judge highlighted the seriousness of the offence and the victim's profound impact. The sentence reflects both aggravating and mitigating factors.
In a Dublin court, a mother testified that she felt "lost and didn't know what to do" after her 10‑ or 11‑year‑old daughter revealed alleged sexual abuse by her older cousin, who is now 20 and has pleaded not guilty to 11 counts of sexual assault and one count of section 4 rape. The mother described the moment her daughter disclosed the abuse, her attempts to seek help, and the subsequent visit to the Garda station. She also recounted her daughter's discovery of pornographic content on a tablet and a note with the word "sex." The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo, continues with the jury hearing the mother's account of the alleged abuse and the steps she took after the disclosure. The accused remains legally entitled to anonymity. The case is still in the hearing stage.
Padraic Troy, 29, of Golden Gardens, Dundrum, Co. Tipperary, was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment for two counts of rape, anal rape and two sexual assaults of a female acquaintance in 2021. The victim, who was discharged from hospital after an ambulance transfer, had called Troy for assistance. He met her at 3:24 am, accompanied her to a car, and during the journey he began kissing her. After another man left, Troy raped, anally raped and sexually assaulted her in her bedroom. The victim reported the assault the next day, and a DNA profile matched Troy. He denied the allegations, claiming consensual sex. The court noted the victim's life was profoundly affected, citing loss of employment, anxiety and trust issues. Justice Melanie Greally imposed the ten‑year sentence, back‑dated to the date Troy entered custody, and a one‑year post‑release supervision order.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 3 April 2025, Judge Melanie Greally sentenced Paul Kelly, 46, to seven and a half years' imprisonment for repeated rape and sexual abuse of his younger brother, Anthony Kelly. The judge noted that the abuse occurred between 1995 and 1999, when Paul was aged 16 to 20, and that it involved 12 counts of sexual assault, two counts of oral rape and 12 counts of anal rape. Anthony, aged 10 to 14 at the time, had suffered lasting trauma and had come forward with a complaint in 2021. Judge Greally said the case was aggravated by the regularity of the offending, the extended period, the breach of trust and the fact that it took place within the family home. She also addressed letters from members of Paul's family, stating that it is "not permissible" to write privately to a judge about reporting restrictions, and that justice must be administered publicly. Paul Kelly was convicted.
John McClean, former Terenure College rugby coach, admitted abusing four additional teenagers but will not receive extra jail time because his sentences run concurrently with a 10½‑year global term for 45 earlier victims. The court, following a Court of Appeal direction, capped his total term at ten and a half years for his overall misconduct. McClean, 80, pleaded guilty to seven counts of indecent assault between 1973 and 1990. He had previously received an 11‑year sentence with the last three years suspended in 2021 for sexual abuse of 22 boys, and a 4‑year sentence reduced to two and a half years in 2023. The judge noted McClean's position of trust and that the new two‑year sentence will run concurrently with the earlier suspended portion, so he will not serve additional custody. Victim impact statements highlighted shame, anger, and the lasting effects of the abuse.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 20‑year‑old woman pleaded not guilty to 11 counts of sexual assault and one count of section 4 rape against a teenage girl aged 10‑11. The accused, a first cousin, allegedly began the abuse before age 12, when she was said to have watched pornography on her tablet and asked the younger cousin to perform sexual acts. The court heard that the accused digitally penetrated the girl, forced her mouth on her breasts and vagina, and used a hairbrush to penetrate her. The girl reported repeatedly telling the cousin she did not like the acts and that the cousin said "didn't care." She also described being slapped, having her phone used to take photos in a bathroom, and the abuse stopping after the accused tried to kiss her. The mother found notes in the girl's bedroom written by the cousin stating a desire to have sex with her.
A 54‑year‑old man was sentenced to eight years in prison, with the final twelve months suspended, for attempted rape, sexual assault and threatening to kill his step‑daughter in County Limerick between 2011 and 2019. The victim, aged eight to sixteen at the times of the incidents, described repeated sexual advances, an attempted rape while lying on a bed, a sexual assault while she was on a couch, and a threat to kill her with a knife after she warned him she would tell her mother. The man pleaded not guilty and claimed he had cooperated with the investigation and complied with a 2020 barring order. The judge, Justice Melanie Greally, imposed post‑release supervision for two years, forbidding the defendant from any occupation that could bring him into contact with children and from any contact with the victim, her mother or family. The sentence was delivered in the Central Criminal Court. The unnamed 54-year-old was convicted.
A 20‑year‑old Dublin woman, unnamed for legal reasons, has gone on trial in the Central Criminal Court on 11 counts of sexual assault and one count of section 4 rape. The alleged offences took place between July 2017 and July 2019 when the accused was aged 12 to 14 and the victim, her younger cousin, was aged 10 to 11. The prosecution alleges the accused penetrated the girl with a hairbrush and digitally penetrated her, forcing her to mouth her breasts and vagina. The complainant claims the abuse began before the accused turned 12, when she was shown pornography on a tablet and instructed to perform sexual acts. She says she repeatedly told the accused to stop, but was slapped when she tried to refuse. The trial is before Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo and a jury. The unnamed 20-year-old pleaded not guilty.
A 25‑year‑old man was sentenced to 12½ years in prison for raping and smothering his wife during an armed attack in Dublin in September 2023. The Central Criminal Court heard that the victim, who now raises her children alone, had been isolated from her Travelling community after bringing her former husband to court. The court noted the man had 35 prior convictions, including theft, burglary, robbery and breach of a protection order. He denied the rape and assault, claiming the victim fabricated the allegations. Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo set a 13‑year sentence, suspended the final six months, and imposed conditions including engagement with the Probation Service. The sentence was handed down after the man's supporters shouted at the victim and were removed by Gardaí. The case was placed in the 10‑15‑year headline sentencing category by the Director of Public Prosecutions.
A 21‑year‑old man, who had posed as a teenage girl online, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for sexually assaulting a four‑year‑old boy and for multiple offences involving child sexual abuse material (CSAM). He pleaded guilty to the assault, to five counts of possession of CSAM, one count of possession of CSAM on Snapchat, two counts of producing CSAM, and two counts of distributing CSAM. The court noted that the victim was aged between 16 and 18 at the time of the offences and that the man had been in custody since his arrest in May 2024. Evidence showed he had over 1,500 files of CSAM, had communicated with boys aged 12 to 15 on Snapchat, and had encouraged them to produce and send sexual content. The judge imposed a six‑year sentence, with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions, including probation supervision after release.
Three men—Anthony Hickey (39), Fabio Vicente (42) and Matin Zolfaghari (34)—were sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for a gang rape and sexual assault that occurred on 31 August 2019 in a Dublin nightclub. Hickey received 16 years, with the final year suspended; Vicente also received 16 years, suspended; Zolfaghari received 14 years, suspended. All three pleaded not guilty. The judge described the conduct as "cruel, cynical and depraved" and noted the victim was in a vulnerable state. The court directed the men to be supervised by Probation Services for three years after release and back‑dated their sentences to the date of custody. The sentencing hearing included the victim's impact statement, in which she accused the men of recording and sharing videos of the assault and of laughing at her refusal. The judge emphasised that blame rested solely with the men and praised the Garda investigation. No further legal outcomes are mentioned in the article. Anthony Hickey was convicted. Fabio Vicente was found guilty. Matin Zolfaghari was convicted.
In a victim impact statement read to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a woman who was sexually abused by her cousin when she was eight years old addressed the 40‑year‑old defendant, telling him: "May you never be free. May you be haunted like I have been." The defendant had pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault committed in 1999 when he was 15 and the victim was eight. He was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended on strict conditions. The court noted the repeated nature of the offences, the victim's ongoing suffering, and the defendant's guilty plea, expressions of remorse, lack of prior convictions and good work history. The victim described the abuse as not innocent curiosity, detailing the impact on her trust, mental health and life trajectory. The defendant was instructed to apologise, and the court considered his family situation as context rather than excuse.
A 54-year-old Brazilian man has been sentenced to nine years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following his conviction on multiple charges related to operating a brothel network across rural Ireland. Ilamar Rodrigues Ribeiro pleaded guilty to 19 sample counts, including brothel-keeping, using false instruments, and possession of proceeds of crime totalling €788,982 across multiple bank accounts. He also admitted possessing child sexual abuse material on his mobile phone when arrested at Dublin Airport in November 2023. The investigation, led by the Garda Human Trafficking and Co-ordination Unit, identified ten rental properties used as brothels in locations including Longford town, Ballyconnell, Ballymahon, Carrick-on-Shannon, and Ballaghadereen. Judge Patricia Ryan noted the offences involved elaborate planning and premeditation. She imposed a global sentence of ten and a half years, suspending the final eighteen months on strict conditions, with the term backdated to his arrest date.
A 65-year-old man was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for the sexual abuse of his niece. The defendant, who cannot be named to protect the victim's identity, pleaded guilty to three charges of sexually assaulting the girl between 1992 and 1998, when she was aged four to ten. Judge Martin Nolan jailed the man for a further 21 months, to be served consecutively to the nine-and-a-half-year sentence he is already serving for offences committed between 1984 and 1986, for which he was jailed in 2022. Prosecution evidence indicated the abuse occurred at the victim's grandparent's home in Dublin. The victim, who made a formal complaint in February 2023, described the man as grooming her and detailed the long-term psychological impact, including paranoia, depression, and suicidal thoughts. The defendant admitted to an additional incident not previously known to gardaí. Defence counsel Michael Bowman SC submitted that the man understood the lifelong consequences of his actions. Judge Nolan described the conduct as a severe breach of trust, noting the considerable age difference and stating there was no excuse for the behaviour. The judge accepted the guilty plea and the defendant's remorse but emphasised the lasting harm to the victim's peace of mind and her fear for her own children.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 24 March 2025, Riad Hamzi, aged 51, was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment for a single count of rape that occurred on 19 August 2020. The victim, Elena O'Brien, testified that she had told Hamzi she wanted to separate; he denied the allegation, claiming the sex was consensual, but then punched her twice, raped her, and forced his fist into her mouth. Hamzi's sentence was back‑dated to 20 December 2024, when he entered custody, and the final year of the term was suspended for three years on strict conditions. The judge cited the relationship between the parties, the victim's impact statement, and the violence beyond the rape as aggravating factors, while noting Hamzi's health issues, long work history and character witnesses as mitigating. O'Brien's impact statement described ongoing PTSD, sleep difficulties and financial hardship following the assault. The court expressed well‑wishes to O'Brien for the future. Riad Hamzi was convicted.
Daniel Ramamoorthy, 38, a former government adviser, social media influencer and motivational speaker, was convicted by a jury of sexually exploiting a 13‑year‑old boy he met while volunteering as a Christian camp guide. The offence involved requesting the boy to send a picture of his penis over Snapchat in 2017. A second trial after a hung jury resulted in a headline sentence of three years, reduced to two years and four months, with the judge noting the serious breach of trust and the significant age disparity. Ramamoorthy also pleaded guilty to possessing child sexual abuse material, for which he received an 18‑month sentence; both sentences run concurrently. He was ordered to be placed on the sex offender register and will not be allowed to remain in Ireland upon release. The court recorded that the boy suffered loss of trust and stress from the trials, and that Ramamoorthy maintains his innocence regarding the exploitation charge.
Conor McGregor and James Lawrence are appealing the civil jury verdict that found McGregor raped Nikita Hand in 2018. At a Court of Appeal hearing before Mr Justice Seamus Noonan, McGregor's counsel sought permission to introduce fresh evidence from two individuals. The judge directed that a formal motion and affidavits must be filed to address the admissibility of this new evidence, with a case management hearing scheduled for May 2 to fix the date for that application. The judge ruled the appeal cannot proceed until the court decides on the new evidence. McGregor's team alleges the trial judge made legal and factual errors, specifically regarding the jury question on whether he "assaulted" rather than "sexually assaulted" Ms Hand. Lawrence, who was found not to have assaulted Ms Hand, is appealing his costs, despite McGregor paying his legal fees. In January, Mr Justice Owens ordered McGregor to pay €1.3 million in costs, with a stay granted conditional on immediate payments of €100,000 towards the damages award and €200,000 towards costs, which the Court of Appeal heard has been completed. The matter remains at the procedural stage of determining the admissibility of fresh evidence before the substantive appeal can be heard.
Michael Molloy, a 25‑year‑old architecture student from Gorey, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for raping a 20‑year‑old woman in a laneway on the night of 1 November 2021. The victim, who had previously known Molloy from school, was forced into sexual activity after he walked her home from a pub. She resisted, but Molloy forced her against a wall, digitally penetrated her, and orally raped her. The court found him guilty on counts of rape, oral rape and sexual assault. Molloy maintained his innocence, claiming the acts were consensual. He was sentenced by Mr Justice Paul Burns to a headline term of seven years, reduced to six years with the final year suspended, and will remain under probation supervision for three years. The victim described lasting psychological effects and a loss of confidence following the assault.
Kaitlyn Winston, a 19‑year‑old maternity care assistant, claimed she was forced to quit after a porter sexually assaulted her on 3 May 2022 by putting his hands on her waist. An independent investigation upheld the assault on the balance of probabilities. The porter, a man in his 30s, was kept employed after a disciplinary process that issued a final written warning, removed his allowance and transferred him to a different department. Winston returned to work in February 2023, encountered the porter twice that day, and felt unsupported and intimidated. She took sick leave on 24 February and resigned on 4 May 2023, citing lack of management support and that her complaint was not taken seriously. The Workplace Relations Commission rejected her unfair dismissal and employment equality claims, ruling that the hospital had taken reasonable steps to protect her and that her resignation was not a constructive dismissal. The case is now subject to appeal.
A Brazilian man has pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to operating a network of brothels across rural Ireland using falsified documents and landlord deception. Ilamar Rodrigues Ribeiro, aged 54, rented ten properties under a false Italian identity, with two located in Roscommon Town and others in Longford, Cavan, Leitrim, Carlow, Wexford and Kildare between 2018 and 2023. When arrested at Dublin Airport in November 2023, gardaí from the Human Trafficking and Co-ordination Unit recovered approximately €788,000 in proceeds of crime across multiple bank accounts. He also pleaded guilty to possessing child sexual abuse material on his phone comprising nine images and sixteen videos. Ribeiro entered guilty pleas to nineteen sample counts including fraud, inducing landlords to rent properties under false pretences, and possession of criminal proceeds. The investigation began following trafficking allegations from two women who identified properties being misused as brothels. Ribeiro has remained in custody since his arrest. Sentencing proceedings are scheduled for 21 March.
A 46‑year‑old man was sentenced to 12 years in prison, with the final year suspended, for repeatedly raping and sexually assaulting his wife's grand‑nephew over a five‑year period from January 2018 to May 2023. The boy, aged between nine and 14 during the offences, was being minded in the man's home in the south‑east of the country. The jury found him guilty of 13 counts of anal rape and 18 counts of sexual assault. The victim's mother, speaking on behalf of her son, described the abuse as tearing the family apart and leaving the boy with a grief‑like feeling after the loss of his great‑aunt who had minded him. Judge Paul Burns noted the serious breach of trust, the long‑standing impact on the victim, and the man's lack of prior convictions. He ordered the man to remain under Probation Service supervision for three years after release.
Randi Gladstone, a 41‑year‑old from Guyana with 19 prior convictions in the UK, was convicted in the Central Criminal Court of one count of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of false imprisonment against an 18‑year‑old woman in a Dublin holiday complex on 25 August 2023. The victim had been staying at the accommodation for several days and was approached by Gladstone who asked her about her age and boyfriend, offered money and attempted to kiss her. She refused, but he forced her to remove her clothing, kissed her body, and digitally penetrated her. She fled, called her mother, and later reported the assault. Gladstone denied all misconduct and claimed the act was consensual. The court heard a victim impact statement describing severe emotional distress. The Director of Public Prosecutions placed the offence in the ten‑to‑fifteen‑year bracket.
Jack Manning, an 88‑year‑old former Christian Brother and teacher, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for repeatedly sexually abusing eight boys at a primary school in the 1970s. The court heard that Manning would call each boy to the top of the class, have them read a book from his desk, then approach them closely and touch their genitals, both inside and outside their clothing. He pleaded guilty to 14 charges of indecent assault, which were part of 74 charges in total. The judge noted that Manning had abused the boys on at least 100 occasions, that the victims were not protected, and that his behaviour had a profound impact on their lives. Despite his age and infirmities, the judge imposed two consecutive two‑year terms, citing the seriousness of the offences and the need for punishment. The victims, who wished to remain anonymous, were allowed to read their own impact statements in court.
Badruzzaman Masum, a 47-year-old taxi driver from Swords, Co Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for the sexual assault of an 18-year-old passenger. Masum pleaded guilty to the charge, which relates to an incident on November 27, 2024. Prosecution evidence presented by Garda Ciara Ryan alleged that Masum touched the victim's thigh, made crude sexual comments, and roughly groped her breast as she exited the vehicle. The victim had ordered the taxi via an app, and Masum was identified through CCTV and app analysis. Although Masum made no admissions during his interview, he has expressed remorse and has not worked as a taxi driver since entering his plea. Judge Patricia Ryan noted the significant breach of trust and the victim's young age as aggravating factors, while acknowledging Masum's lack of previous convictions. The court imposed a two-year custodial sentence. Additionally, Masum was ordered to be placed on the sex offender's register. The matter was finalised with this sentence.
Two women, aged 33 and younger, testified that they were sexually abused by an older cousin and a second cousin, and that their families did not believe them. The 33‑year‑old accused pleaded guilty to rape, oral rape and sexual assault of the older girl and sexual assault of the younger girl between 2004 and 2008 at their grandparents' home. His older brother, aged 34, pleaded guilty to one count of rape and sexual assault of the older girl in 2005. The second cousin, aged 14 at the time of the offence, was charged only for one incident. The court heard the women described lifelong trauma, PTSD and loss of family support. Mr Justice Tony Hunt adjourned sentencing to 31 March, remanded the men in custody and praised the women's strength. The accused men read apology letters and pleaded guilty at the first opportunity. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
Georgina Tuohey, mother of three children who were raped and sexually abused by Brendan Cornally, spoke from the court during his sentencing at the Central Criminal Court. Cornally was sentenced to a total of 17½ years for the rape and sexual assault of her two sons and the sexual assault of her daughter. He had previously served 10 years for the rape of a boy aged 10‑14 and 21 months for the assault of a sister aged 13‑15. The judge imposed a headline sentence of 20 years, with the final two and a half years suspended on strict conditions for five years. Tuohey expressed that the sentence was lenient and that the justice system would let people like her down, while the judge noted the impact of Cornally's actions on her son, who suffered a severe decline in health and became catatonic. The sentencing was consecutive to his existing 11‑year‑nine‑month term. Brendan Cornally pleaded guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a woman who was gang‑raped by three men in a Dublin nightclub on 31 August 2019 gave a victim impact statement. She described how the men – Anthony Hickey (39), Fabio Vicente (42) and Matin Zolfaghari (34) – watched her movements, used her body as an object and raped her in a car and in a house. The statement detailed her fear, anxiety, flashbacks and nightmares, and her anger at the men's videos of the assault that were shared for a laugh. She said the criminal process was long and daunting, and that the men had taken away her freedom, her body and her love for life. The court noted the men were remanded in custody and the case was adjourned for sentencing on 27 March. The statement was given in plain Irish‑English prose, with no additional claims or inferences beyond the facts presented in the article. Anthony Hickey pleaded not guilty and was convicted. Fabio Vicente pleaded not guilty and was found guilty. Matin Zolfaghari pleaded not guilty and was convicted.
A 28‑year‑old man, John Glynn, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment by the Central Criminal Court for six counts of sexual assault against a girl aged between eight and thirteen who was being minded by his mother at his family home in Co. Kildare. The victim, who chose to waive anonymity, described ongoing fear, trust issues and psychological distress in her impact statement. Glynn pleaded guilty to the assaults, which occurred between 2013 and 2018, and was also charged with possession of child sexual abuse material, a charge pending sentencing in May. The judge noted Glynn's high risk of re‑offending, his admission of shame, and his ongoing cannabis use, and imposed a two‑year post‑release supervision order and a requirement to engage in a sex‑offender treatment programme. The sentence was reduced from a potential seven years to five years and six months, reflecting that Glynn was a juvenile for part of the offending period.
A 59-year-old man from Dunfanaghy, County Donegal has been sentenced to 11 years imprisonment following his conviction for the sexual abuse of two teenage girls over two decades ago. Andrew Robert John McElhinney was found guilty by a Central Criminal Court jury on seven of nine counts following trial in Monaghan last July. He was convicted of three counts of sexual assault and three sample counts of rape relating to the first complainant, and one count of sexual assault against the second. The offences occurred between May 1998 and September 2000 and took place predominantly in McElhinney's home. At the time, the victims were approximately 14 and 16 years old, while McElhinney was 19 years their senior. Justice Patrick McGrath imposed the sentence having regard to the serious and lasting impact on the victims, the breach of trust involved, the age disparity, and the repeated nature of the abuse. The judge noted McElhinney's lack of cooperation with probation services and his continued assertion of innocence despite the jury verdict.
Mark McAnaw, 52, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the harassment of Nicola Tallant, Amanda Brunker, and Deirdre Reynolds on various dates in August 2023. The court heard that McAnaw, who has previous convictions including rape and kidnapping, sent explicit and threatening emails to the three women, who are journalists. He also turned up at the Sunday World's office and contacted Ms. Brunker via social media. McAnaw is currently detained in the Central Mental Hospital. The court noted that at the time of the offending, he was not taking his medication. Judge Pauline Codd adjourned the case until June 5 to prepare a probation report and obtain an up-to-date psychiatric report. The matter was adjourned and not concluded. McAnaw previously received an eight-year, four-month sentence for an attack in 2018, with the final 16 months suspended for 16 years, and was placed under Probation Services supervision. The victims described living in fear due to the threats.
Shane Flanagan, 39, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to impersonating a woman online, inciting two men to rape her, and possessing child abuse material. He admitted to two counts of inciting rape between November and December 2020, six counts of endangerment for impersonating the woman on Facebook and fetlife.com and inviting violence between 2018 and 2020, and one count of possession of four images of child sexual abuse material on 7 January 2021. The victim wishes to remain anonymous. The judge ordered Flanagan to remain on bail until June pending sentencing.
In a High Court hearing on 6 March 2025, Mr Justice Alex Owens awarded legal costs to Ms Nikita Hand's counsel after Conor McGregor was found civilly liable for her rape. Owens described McGregor as "the author of his own misfortune" for reposting online comments that suggested the CCTV footage used at the trial might be shared. The judge noted McGregor had sworn he had not disseminated the footage, had deleted it, and had complied with court orders to destroy or return all case materials. Owens ordered McGregor to destroy or return all materials in his possession and to swear an affidavit confirming the deletion of all copies. The costs order was deemed inevitable, and a stay was placed pending McGregor's appeal of the jury's verdict. The jury had awarded €248,000 in damages to Ms Hand.
Keith Farrell, a 50‑year‑old former DJ from Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty to possession of child sexual abuse material. He was found with 2,868 images in deleted files on a MacBook, including 1,300 sexual images and 458 depicting child exposure. The court noted no aggravating factors such as prior convictions or distribution. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a fully suspended two‑year sentence on strict conditions, following higher court advice that non‑custodial options are appropriate when no aggravating factors exist. Farrell cooperated during the search, provided passwords, and admitted the offences. He has no previous convictions, is not currently employed due to health issues, and is receiving social welfare. The case was investigated after a referral to Gardaí and involved Google's infrastructure in May 2021. The court considered his personal circumstances, including a difficult upbringing, substance use, and caregiving responsibilities. The sentence is suspended, with no custodial term imposed.
A 45‑year‑old man, who was 40 when he first began sexual activity with a 16‑year‑old girl, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment. The court heard that the offences took place between April and June 2020, during the Covid‑19 lockdown, and that the man had repeatedly defiled the girl, who believed they were in a genuine relationship. He pleaded guilty to three counts of defilement. The court noted the man had no prior convictions and that the pandemic created unusual circumstances. The judge described the repeated nature of the offending as aggravating and imposed a custodial term, concluding the man deserved imprisonment. The sentence was not suspended, and no further custodial period was specified beyond the two‑year term. The case ended with the man's guilty plea and acceptance of wrongdoing.
In a Dublin rape trial, the State presented a 33‑year‑old Louth defendant who is accused of raping a 19‑year‑old Spanish student on New Year's Eve. The prosecution argued that the defendant led the woman into a quiet area in a menacing and predatory manner, that she was heavily intoxicated and unable to consent, and that CCTV footage showed the pair meeting at a shop after she had vomited and then walking to a car park where the alleged rape occurred. The defence counsel highlighted "bizarre" elements, noting similarities between the woman's encounters with two men that night, and argued she was in full control of her faculties and capable of consenting. The jury was instructed to consider whether the woman could consent between 1.40 am and 2.17 am. The trial is ongoing before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs and a jury. The unnamed 33-year-old pleaded not guilty.
The Central Criminal Court saw the trial of a woman, her brother and another man accused of sexually assaulting and raping the woman's daughter collapse. Justice Melanie Greally announced that developments during the proceedings led her to conclude that the case should be concluded immediately and heard by a different jury on a new date. She explained that this decision was not taken lightly, citing the impact on the complainant and the court's duty to ensure a fair trial. The three accused, all residing in the west of Ireland, are entitled to anonymity. The complainant's mother had pleaded not guilty to 13 counts of sexual assault and one count of rape, alleging repeated assaults on her daughter between 2000 and 2009, again between 2012 and 2014, and during a family holiday in 2001. The mother's testimony also described an incident where the daughter was taken to her uncle's bedroom, where the uncle raped her while the mother watched.
A Jordanian man, Saif Waleed Al Hindawi, was jailed for three and a half years after a violent sexual assault on a woman in South Dublin. The victim was bitten on the mouth and forced to the ground, suffering injuries that required hospital treatment and ongoing medical care. Al Hindawi, who had no fixed abode, falsely claimed to be a Syrian asylum seeker and denied any sexual conduct. He also refused a disease test, delaying the victim's knowledge of potential infection. The court heard the victim's impact statement, detailing PTSD, loss of confidence, and ongoing medication. Al Hindawi pleaded guilty to sexual assault on 23 May 2024. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to three and a half years, noting possible deportation after release. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Peter Doyle, aged 68, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment for indecent assault and rape of two girls aged six to nine between 1977 and 1991. The victims, who wish to remain anonymous, recounted how they were ignored when they tried to alert adults, with one told the abuser was "just experimenting." Doyle pleaded guilty to all charges. The judge, Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo, set a headline sentence of 15 years but, citing mitigating factors such as Doyle's guilty plea, lack of prior convictions, good work history and remorse, imposed consecutive sentences totalling eight years. The court noted the deep and lasting harm suffered by the victims and the breach of trust involved. The case was classified as "more serious" by the Director of Public Prosecutions.
In a trial in the West of Ireland, a rape complainant testified that she has a clear recollection of her mother and uncle having sex when she was a child. She said she was 11 years old when the uncle allegedly had sexual intercourse with her, and she also recalled an incident with another man who was a friend of her former partner. The complainant's mother and uncle face a total of 21 counts of sexual assault and rape, alleged to have occurred between 2000 and 2014, mainly at a family home in the west. The uncle pleaded not guilty to five counts of rape and one of oral rape; the other man pleaded not guilty to one count of oral rape; the mother pleaded not guilty to 13 counts of sexual assault and one count of rape. The case is before Justice Melanie Greally and a jury.
A 47‑year‑old man was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for sexual assault and exploitation of a teenage girl in foster care. He pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault, five counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child and three counts of using technology to facilitate the sexual exploitation of a child. The offences took place between November 2021 and April 2023, when the victim was aged 14 to 16. The court heard that the man was in a relationship with the daughter of the girl's foster mother and that the abuse was discovered after the foster mother found sexual messages. The girl described repeated incidents of the man masturbating in front of her, giving her vapes and cannabis, and touching her breasts. She also reported that the man sent explicit voice messages in exchange for vapes.
A man has been convicted and sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for serious sexual offences against his sister. Kyle Jinks, aged 31, of Slievemore, Ballytivnan, County Sligo, was found guilty on 21 sample counts of rape and four sample counts of sexual assault committed between 2008 and 2014. The offences occurred at the family home in County Sligo when the victim was aged between 11 and 17 years old and the defendant was between 14 and 20. Mr Justice David Keane imposed sentence on 28 February 2025, noting the severe breach of familial trust, the victim's vulnerability, and the persistent pattern of offending over seven years. The judge observed that the family home became a place of fear rather than safety. Jinks maintains his innocence and intends to appeal the verdicts. He has 25 previous convictions. The court heard he is assessed as very high risk of re-offending. Two years' post-release supervision has been directed.
A 50‑year‑old man was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for sexually assaulting his 12‑year‑old daughter between January 2016 and August 2017 at a Dublin address. He pleaded guilty and had five prior convictions, including rape and sexual assault. The court heard that the victim and her siblings were in his sole care after their mother's death in 2012, and that the children often watched films in his room while he drank downstairs. The victim recalled being touched on the outside of her underwear and then being digitally penetrated; she fled to her bedroom and later told a family member before filing a complaint in 2023. The judge noted the aggravating factor that the victim was his daughter and that he had failed to fulfil parental responsibilities. The sentence was back‑dated to the date of the guilty plea.
In a Dublin rape trial, the jury was shown a 40‑minute CCTV clip of the complainant and a second man having a sexual encounter in a B&B hallway hours after the alleged rape. Judge Caroline Biggs warned the footage could be intrusive and distressing but deemed it necessary to play. The accused, a 33‑year‑old Louth man, pleaded not guilty to raping a 19‑year‑old Spanish tourist on a Dublin Castle street on 1 January 2019. The State alleged the victim could not consent due to alcohol or drugs. After the alleged rape, the victim walked with the accused, then sought help from a couple who directed her to a B&B where she met the second man. She described persistent kissing, anal sex, and pain, and later claimed she had been raped by both men. No charge was brought against the second man.
Shane Byrne, 38, of Clondalkin, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to distributing child pornography in May and June 2016. Garda Deirdre Cotter reported that Byrne had been messaging a woman he was in an "on and off relationship" with, sending her unsolicited child abuse images and asking her to pretend she was a 12‑year‑old boy, to call him Daddy, and to obtain a child younger than five years old. He also sent images depicting a six‑year‑old being raped. Byrne denied sending the images and claimed he had never viewed child pornography. He was arrested after the woman contacted gardaí. Byrne had previously moved to England, where he was jailed for assault, and was extradited back to Ireland in July. He was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with the last 12 months suspended on strict conditions, including 12 months of supervision by the Probation Service, backdated to his July custody entry.
A 33‑year‑old Spanish tourist, who was accused of rape on New Year's Eve 2019 in Dublin's Castle area, denies being affectionate with the alleged rapist on CCTV footage. She pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court. The State alleges the man raped her on a street, claiming she could not consent due to alcohol or drugs. She testified she was trying to find a bar, was led into a dark area where the alleged rape occurred, and felt powerless. Afterward she walked with the man back through the city centre, then met a couple outside a shop. She says she was frightened, held the man's arm to avoid falling, and later met a second man at a B&B where she was kissed and had anal sex. She claims she was coerced and that no charge has been brought against the second man. The trial continues before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs and a jury.
A 32‑year‑old man was jailed for three years and three months after pleading guilty to three charges of sexual assault against a nine‑year‑old girl who was staying at his house as a guest. The assaults occurred between August 2020 and January 2021. The girl reported that the man entered her room at night and touched her vagina outside her underwear, sometimes while she was sharing a bed with her three‑year‑old sister. She first told her mother in January 2021, who confronted the man and recorded his admissions. The family later brought him to Gardaí, where he repeated the admissions. The judge, Martin Nolan, noted the man's breach of trust and hospitality, and his expression of remorse, before sentencing him. The victim, now 14, gave a victim impact statement describing ongoing anxiety and the lasting effect of the abuse.
Sean Kinneavy, 74, was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment for 47 counts of sexual assault and two rapes involving a girl aged 10‑15, who was 50 years his junior. The offences occurred between January 2013 and June 2018 in Dublin and Galway. Kinneavy was directed to pay €38,000 in compensation to the victim and her mother for financial losses incurred while caring for the victim. He maintains his innocence and has no prior convictions. The judge noted the persistent nature of the abuse, the breach of trust, and the impact on the victim, describing the crimes as "deplorable". A two‑year post‑release supervision order was also imposed. The sentence was back‑dated to the date he entered custody in November last year. The court considered Kinneavy's age and good character as mitigating factors, but found the repeated offences outweighed them. The victim's impact statement highlighted the lasting trauma and financial burden she endured.
A Spanish tourist, aged 33, gave evidence in the Central Criminal Court that she was raped on January 1, 2019, in Dublin's city centre. She described feeling "like a doll" and having no strength, and that she was unable to consent due to alcohol or another drug. She recalled walking with the accused, a 33‑year‑old Louth man who is anonymous until the trial ends, and that he held her arm and waist tightly. She said he penetrated her vagina, though she has no clear memory of the act. She later claimed a second rape occurred in a B&B, where she was forced into anal sex. The accused denies any wrongdoing and has pleaded not guilty to one count of rape. The trial continues before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs.
In a Court of Appeal hearing, the lawyers for former Army Captain Ross O'Shea argued that his sexual assault of a female non‑commissioned officer was an aberration in a glittering 17‑year career and that his dismissal from the Defence Forces was a disproportionate punishment. O'Shea was convicted in October 2022 by a General Court Martial of sexually assaulting the officer at the Officer's Mess on 25 June 2020, moving his palms up and down her back and saying "come on, come on," and of assaulting her under Section 2 of the Non‑Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. The court imposed a six‑month custodial sentence suspended for one year and ordered his dismissal. O'Shea's appeal was dismissed in October 2023. The prosecution highlighted the disparity in rank, the victim's inability to defend herself due to military training, and the appellant's use of his rank to intimidate other officers. Ross O'Shea pleaded guilty.