Cornel Onofrei, 38, a security guard, was jailed for nine months after sexually assaulting a woman in Phoenix Park. The victim, who believed him to be a taxi driver, was heavily intoxicated and was taken to a remote dark location in the park where Onofrei kissed her. She pushed him off and got out of the car, later asking him to drive her home, which he did. Onofrei pleaded guilty to the assault on 17 December 2018. He has 28 prior convictions, including 14 road traffic offences. Judge Melanie Greally described his conduct as "sinister and predatory" and noted his lack of appreciation for the seriousness of his actions. He was sentenced to 13 months, with the final four months suspended, and must comply with strict probation conditions for 12 months.
A man who sexually assaulted his partner's niece and later claimed the allegation was fabricated due to a family feud has been jailed. Martin Cawley (65) of Drumcairn Parade, Tallaght, was found guilty by a jury of sexually assaulting the girl at his home in Dublin in October 2013, when she was 10 years old. The trial was held in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in July this year. Cawley gave a hand-written statement to gardaí, alleging the child's mother was behind the allegation due to a family feud. The trial heard that the girl was in Cawley's home on the day in question while her mother visited her grandfather in hospital. She was in the sitting room when Cawley exposed himself, held her down, and simulated sex while on top of her. The offence came to light when the girl confided in her sister, and her parents went to gardaí in 2015. Cawley was interviewed and charged in early 2016. The complainant, now 18, stated in a victim impact statement that she has suffered from insomnia, depression, and high levels of anxiety as a result of the assault. She has informed the DPP that she wishes to waive her anonymity, allowing for the naming of Cawley as per the 1981 Rape Act. Cawley has expressed remorse in general terms but has not accepted the jury's verdict. He has 46 previous convictions, including one sexual offence. John Fitzgerald SC, defending, noted Cawley's health issues, including diabetes, heart problems, and prostate cancer, and said a prison sentence could be a life sentence for him. Judge Karen O'Connor imposed a three-year prison term but suspended the final nine months in light of Cawley's health issues. She commended the complainant's bravery and noted the severe impact of the assault on her mental health. The matter was adjourned at the appeal stage.
A highly educated man, now in his 70s, was convicted of sexually abusing his teenage nephew during a sleep‑over at his grandmother's house. The abuse began on 1 April 1989 when the nephew was 14 and continued for two years until 30 April 1991, when the man was 46. He was found guilty by a jury on 20 January 2017 of five counts of indecent assault and one count of sexual assault after a seven‑day trial. The judge sentenced him to eight years' imprisonment on all counts, with the final two years suspended. The man appealed, arguing that the case was prejudiced because the grandmother, a key witness, died in 1998 and the trial judge failed to withdraw the case. The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, stating that the unavailability of the grandmother did not deprive the defendant of a realistic defence.
A 30‑year‑old creche worker was acquitted of all 18 counts of sexual assault against three girls after two trials. The first trial in spring 2020 ended with a hung jury on 18 counts and not‑guilty verdicts on five others. The second trial, lasting four weeks, concluded with a jury finding the accused not guilty on 17 counts; one count was withdrawn by the judge. The case involved allegations of assault in various creche locations, including a toilet cubicle, and was based on statements from the children and their parents. The prosecution also sought a charge of possession of child pornography, which was dropped by the Director of Public Prosecutions in June 2020. The defence highlighted alleged investigative failures and suggestibility concerns in the children's testimonies. The jury was thanked by Judge Karen O'Connor and released after a deliberation of one hour and 14 minutes.
In a 2021 Dublin Circuit Criminal Court decision, a judge imposed two consecutive three‑and‑a‑half‑year sentences on an unnamed man convicted of 20 counts of sexual assault against a schoolboy. The offences, which occurred between September 1993 and September 1996 in the victim's family home, began when the boy was 11. The victim has suffered mental illness and is prescribed medication for anxiety and depression. An appeal against conviction was dismissed, and the Court of Appeal rejected the appellant's request for a suspended portion of his seven‑year term. The judge noted the lack of remorse and the seriousness of the abuse, concluding that consecutive sentences were warranted. The appellant's legal team argued for part‑suspension and cited the defendant's chaotic background and numerous prior convictions, but these arguments were not accepted. The DPP described the sentence as proportionate and just.
A 73‑year‑old man, who could not be named to protect the victim's identity, was convicted at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of 72 counts of indecent assault on his step‑daughter between 1973 and 1979. The abuse began when the child was six and continued until she was about thirteen, with the first incident occurring before her First Holy Communion. The man, who was 25 at the time, was in a long‑term relationship with the victim's mother but never married her. He had earlier convictions for drink driving. In May 2019 Judge Elma Sheahan imposed a 10‑year sentence, using consecutive two‑year terms for seven counts and 14 years on other counts, citing the severity of the abuse and its lasting impact on the victim. The Court of Appeal upheld the sentence, rejecting the appellant's appeal and confirming the judge's decision to impose consecutive terms.
Ibrahim Ahmed Gharib, 43, an Egyptian national, was convicted of raping a 27‑year‑old foreign student in her home after following her from a bus stop. He also denied sexual assault on a bus journey from Dublin to Carlow. In February 2018, a jury at the Central Criminal Court sentenced him to 12 years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, following a three‑week trial. Gharib appealed to reduce the sentence, arguing the 12‑year term was too high and that the judge should have suspended a larger portion. The Court of Appeal rejected the appeal. Judge George Birmingham upheld the original sentence, noting the victim endured significant violence, a threat to kill, and no remorse from Gharib. The court recorded the victim's impact statement, describing her fear and loss of trust after the assault. Ibrahim Ahmed Gharib pleaded not guilty.
A 54‑year‑old Laois man was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment for four counts of rape and one count of sexual assault against his 15‑year‑old niece, who babysat his children. The offences occurred between 1 June 2004 and 31 March 2005. The victim became pregnant and gave birth to a child. The man, who has no prior convictions, denied the allegations and claimed a consensual relationship. Justice Eileen Creedon noted the breach of trust and the profound impact on the victim, who reported the abuse in September 2015 after a long period of fear. The judge imposed 11 years' imprisonment, suspended the final year on strict conditions, and highlighted the lack of remorse and the man's continued denial. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court.
Jonas Mercado, 30, of Castlecurragh Vale, Mulhuddart, was sentenced to 12 months in prison with the final six months suspended on strict conditions after pleading guilty to a single charge of sexual assault. The offence occurred on Middle Abbey Street, Dublin, on 15 July 2017, when Mercado approached a woman speaking on her mobile phone, placed a hand on her leg, and attempted to tear her underwear. Passers‑by restrained him and he fled. The victim, who felt extremely vulnerable, reported the assault to Gardaí and later to the court. Judge Melanie Greally noted Mercado's intoxication, high risk of reoffending, and his remorse, including a €4,500 compensation payment. The sentence aims to be punitive and deterrent while encouraging treatment and responsibility under probation supervision. Jonas Mercado was convicted.
A 22‑year‑old man was sentenced to one year and ten months in prison for defilement after a Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty of having sex with a 15‑year‑old girl at a Dublin house party in June 2018. The victim, who is unnamed to protect her identity, gave a victim impact statement in which she said the offence had a massive toll on her life and mental well‑being, robbed her of her virginity, and caused a loss of motivation for her studies. She described herself as standoffish with men and said the man's actions had made her feel like a liar. The judge, Mr Justice Paul Coffey, noted the defendant's 107 previous convictions, mainly for theft and burglary, and his history of alcohol and drug abuse, but also that he had no prior sexual offences. The unnamed 22-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Aoife Lynch, aged 22, spoke from home after the Court of Appeal increased her attacker Anthony Smith's sentence. Smith, 45, had originally been sentenced to five years' imprisonment with three suspended for sexual assault and exploitation of a 14‑year‑old girl. The appeal, prompted by the Director of Public Prosecutions, found the original sentence too lenient and overturned it, ruling that only two years of the headline term should have been suspended. Lynch said she was relieved the proceedings were over and hoped the ruling would encourage other victims to come forward. She urged more support for those who speak out and highlighted the stress and anxiety she and her family endured. The judge noted Lynch's vulnerability and Smith's predatory behaviour, while the prosecutor emphasised the undue leniency of the original sentence. Smith's counsel defended the original sentence as appropriate. The unnamed woman pleaded guilty.
In County Kerry, a 61‑year‑old man is set to be sentenced for repeatedly raping his wife's niece between 1990 and 1994. The victim, now 41, reported the abuse to gardaí in 2019, describing how the perpetrator would force her to lie on her side, hold her hips tightly and rape her each morning, starting when she was nine. She had visited the couple's home regularly and often slept in the same bed. The man was arrested in May 2019 after a confrontation with the victim's parents, during which he admitted to having sex with her. He pleaded guilty to four of the 13 charges. The court will consider his plea and the victim's impact statement before sentencing on 22 November 2021.
A 32‑year‑old man, who had served a 10‑year sentence for killing his former girlfriend in his native EU country, was released on the condition he not leave that country until January 2022. He moved to County Cork in 2019, married the mother of a 12‑year‑old girl and moved into the family home. In May 2020 a neighbour reported a domestic incident; Gardaí found the girl with bruises and a cut on her nose. She later admitted to being beaten and sexually abused, describing three episodes of sexual assault and two rapes between September 2019 and May 2020. The man pleaded not guilty to charges of child cruelty, assault causing harm, sexual assault and rape. A jury convicted him on one assault charge, six child‑cruelty charges, three sexual‑assault charges and two rape charges. He has been remanded since June 2020 and sentencing is adjourned to 22 October.
During a ten‑week Munster child‑abuse trial, five family members were convicted of 78 counts, except one. The trial, held in Croke Park, involved a 15‑member jury, with 12 jurors deliberating for nearly 20 hours. After the trial, a juror wrote to Judge Paul McDermott about his views on the jury system; the judge received the letter but said it would not affect sentencing. The defendants, aged 27 to 56, were parents, aunt and uncles of the abused children, who were between one and nine years old at the time of the offences. They were found guilty of sexual abuse, neglect and mistreatment. All five were remanded in custody until a sentence hearing set for 10 January, with victim impact reports expected by December. The judge allowed defence teams to return later if they wished to raise concerns about the letter. The unnamed 35-year-old was acquitted.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Grace Miano, aged 53, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity for the murder of Malawian man Limbani 'Robert' Mzoma, aged 27, at Tudor Lawns, Foxrock, Co Dublin, on 1 November 2018. Miano, also known as Margaret Sloane, claimed she was inhabited by the spirit of Princess Diana and that Diana guided her to kill Mzoma to protect Prince William and other members of the royal family. She alleged that Mzoma had raped and beaten her since 1989 and that she had been threatened by a plot involving Kate Middleton. Psychiatrists Dr Paul O'Connell and Dr Brenda Wright diagnosed Miano with schizoaffective disorder, describing her as intensely psychotic with hallucinations and persecutory beliefs. Both doctors agreed that a not‑guilty verdict by reason of insanity was appropriate, and the prosecution accepted this conclusion. The case remains at the trial stage, with the jury to be instructed by Justice Paul McDermott.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a woman recounted years of sexual, physical and emotional abuse by her older brother, now 56, who was convicted of 11 rapes committed between 1979 and 1982. She said the abuse began when she was nine and her brother fourteen, escalating from touching to rape, with violence such as hitting and breaking fingers. The victim had reported the abuse to Gardaí in 2015, leading to the brother's arrest that year; he denied the allegations. The court heard the abuse occurred at their Dublin family home, starting at the time of her first communion. The woman described enduring fear, manipulation and a sense of isolation, and expressed that she could now confront the memories she had kept hidden. She thanked her husband, supporters, victim‑support services, the prosecution and Gardaí, and stated she would no longer be harmed by her brother.
In 2015, Richard O'Mara, aged 32, raped a 17‑year‑old schoolgirl twice at his sister's 18th birthday party in County Clare. The first assault occurred in a field behind the house; the second took place on a couch inside the house after the party. The victim, who was terrified of seeing O'Mara again, stayed in her bedroom for two months and reported severe physical and psychological trauma. O'Mara pleaded not guilty but was found guilty by a Central Criminal Court jury in April 2019. He was sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended on strict conditions. In June 2019, the Court of Appeal dismissed O'Mara's appeal, upholding the conviction and confirming that the evidence and investigative procedures met the required legal standards. No further sentence changes were announced.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court found a 41‑year‑old man guilty of raping and sexually assaulting a 19‑year‑old girl in a Dublin suburb on 21 August 2017. The accused, who pleaded not guilty, was acquitted of a false imprisonment charge. The victim, who testified via video link, described how she was alone in her town when the man approached her, offered her a place to stay, and then forced her into his home where he raped her. She later fled to a train station, was taken to a Garda station, and her family was notified. The man denied the allegations, claiming the girl was older and that she left his home. Forensic evidence, including DNA from a mattress, was presented. The judge remanded the man in custody until his sentencing date of 29 November 2021, ordering a victim impact statement and a probation report.
The Central Criminal Court is in the closing phase of a trial involving a 41‑year‑old man who has pleaded not guilty to rape, sexual assault and false imprisonment. The complainant, now 19, testified via video link that she was snuck out of her home after being grounded by her mother and was alone in her local town when the accused approached her. She alleges that after she went to his home she was raped, then the accused left the room, closed the door, and she could not leave because there was no handle on her side. She claims she left when the door was left open after a shower. Gardaí were alerted after the girl told a teacher in November 2017, and the accused was interviewed in February 2018.
A 41‑year‑old man, who cannot be named, pleaded not guilty to rape, sexual assault and false imprisonment after a 19‑year‑old girl alleged he raped her and held her captive in his Dublin suburb home on 21 August 2017. The girl, who was 15 at the time, said she had been grounded by her mother and was alone when the accused approached her on a street near his apartment. She claimed he took her to his home, offered her a small beer, and later forced her into his bedroom where he allegedly raped her. She said he closed the door, she could not leave because there was no handle on her side, and she escaped the next day after he left the room to shower. The accused denied all allegations, insisting he had thrown her out and that he believed she was in her twenties.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 41‑year‑old man pleaded not guilty to rape, sexual assault and false imprisonment. The complainant, now 19, was 15 at the time of the alleged rape. She testified via video link that she had left home after being grounded, was alone in her town, and was approached by the accused. She claimed the man raped her after she went to his home. Forensic scientist Dr Charlotte Murphy examined a mattress fabric sample from the accused's bed and found DNA matching the complainant in a blood stain. No semen was detected. The accused argued the blood was menstrual, but Dr Murphy noted the absence of semen does not rule out intercourse. The trial also heard testimony from the accused's former flatmate, who described the night's events and the accused's statements about the girl's presence in the apartment. The case remains before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury.
A 14‑year‑old boy and his 17‑year‑old brother pleaded guilty to raping a 17‑year‑old girl in a public field near a holiday caravan park. The attacks, which included oral, vaginal and anal rape, were carried out in front of about seven other boys. The younger defendant was sentenced to five years detention, while the older received seven and a half years with 18 months suspended. The court noted the victim's young age, the threats of violence, the humiliating public nature of the assaults and the lack of consent. The younger accused was described as "clearly out of control" and lacking empathy, while the older showed some remorse. The victim suffered post‑traumatic stress, dropped out of school and developed anorexia. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court.
A 19‑year‑old teenager, who was 15 at the time of the alleged rape, gave evidence via video link in the Central Criminal Court. She denies that she was "running away from home" on the night of 21 August 2017, when she was allegedly raped, sexually assaulted and falsely imprisoned by a 41‑year‑old man who cannot be named. The accused has pleaded not guilty. The teenager stated she left her home at about 3.45 am, was alone in her local town, and that the accused approached her several times. She said she had no plan that night, had left her phone behind by accident, and that she had gone to the accused's apartment to clear her head after a family dispute. She also said she had taken her father's medication with the intention of overdosing.
A 59‑year‑old man was sentenced to six months' imprisonment for two indecent assaults on his younger niece when he was a teenager. The assaults, committed between 1976 and 1979, involved the niece aged six to eight and took place in her family home, first in a bedroom and later in a bathroom. The Central Criminal Court in Waterford found the defendant guilty of two charges of indecent assault after he denied the allegations. Justice Mary Rose Gearty initially imposed a 20‑month sentence, citing the victim's very young age, the home setting and the lasting impact of the assaults. She reduced the term by ten months, suspended the final four months, and gave credit for the defendant's lack of further serious offences and his otherwise "largely blameless" life since 1979. The victim's impact statement described a lifetime of pain and avoidance, and the court noted the defendant's absence of remorse or a guilty plea.
In a Dublin suburb, a 15‑year‑old girl testified that a 41‑year‑old man brought her to a sealed room, locked the door, and raped her. She described how the man offered her whiskey, led her to a bedroom with a locked window, and forced sexual acts while she tried to resist. She said the assault lasted "forever" and she began bleeding. After escaping, she fled to a train station, eventually reached a Garda station, and her mother was called. She later spoke to a teacher and was examined at a sexual assault treatment unit. The man pleaded not guilty to rape, sexual assault and false imprisonment. The case is before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury at the Central Criminal Court. The trial continues.
A Dublin man, now 25, was jailed for five years after being convicted of one count of anal rape and five counts of sexual assault against his younger cousin, who was nine or ten at the time. The offences occurred between 2013 and early 2015 while the man, aged 17 or 18, was a regular visitor to the family home. He pleaded not guilty but was found guilty by a jury at the Central Criminal Court in May 2021. The judge noted the breach of trust, the victim's age and the impact on the victim and his family, and considered the accused's youth and lack of prior convictions. He was sentenced to five years imprisonment, with one year of post‑release supervision by the Probation Service. The court also ordered that breaching the supervision order would be a separate criminal offence.
Slawomir Gierlowski, 36, has had ten years added to his prison term following a sentencing hearing at the Central Criminal Court. Gierlowski was previously convicted in 2018 of random outdoor attacks on three women in Clondalkin between 2011 and 2016, receiving a 22.5-year sentence with four years suspended. In May 2019, he was convicted of attempted rape, sexual assault, and assault causing harm against a fourth victim in a city centre attack on December 18, 2010, charges he denied. Sentencing for these offences was adjourned while Gierlowski appealed his 2018 convictions and sentence, appeals which the Court of Appeal dismissed in July. Today, Mr Justice Michael White imposed a headline sentence of 15 years for the attempted rape, reduced to ten years to be served consecutively upon the termination of his current term. He also imposed concurrent five-year sentences for the other two charges. The judge noted Gierlowski remains a serious threat to women's safety due to his lack of acknowledgement of predatory behaviour. The court applied the principle of totality, determining that the circumstances warranted minimal reduction. Gierlowski is currently serving his original sentence, with the new ten-year term to follow.
A Central Criminal Court jury found five members of an extended family guilty of sexually abusing three children in Munster between 2014 and 2016. The accused – the children's parents, aunt, uncle and the aunt's husband – were convicted on 78 counts, with the 27‑year‑old uncle receiving a single not‑guilty verdict. The father was found guilty of 31 counts, including rape, sexual assault and neglect; the mother of 25 counts, including assault and neglect; the aunt of three counts of assault; the uncle of ten counts, including rape and assault; and the 27‑year‑old uncle of eight counts, including rape and exploitation. All five were remanded in custody pending sentencing, which will be set on 4 October. The trial highlighted the children's allegations, the accused's denials, and the prosecution's emphasis on neglect and abuse. No further outcomes are reported in the article. The unnamed 27-year-old was acquitted.
In a Munster child‑abuse trial, a jury that has been deliberating for ten weeks was sent home after lunch because one juror had an appointment. The jury will resume tomorrow. The case involves five unnamed family members accused of abusing three children between 2014 and 2016. The accused are the children's parents, aunt and uncles, aged 27 to 56, living in various Munster locations. All deny the charges. The father (56) pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of rape, anal rape, oral rape, sexual assault, sexual exploitation and wilfully neglecting a child, with three counts withdrawn during the trial. The mother (34) pleaded not guilty to 25 counts of sexual assault, sexual exploitation and wilfully neglecting a child, and also to wilfully neglecting two other children. The aunt (35) pleaded not guilty to three counts of sexual assault.
Joseph Keegan, a 79-year-old former Franciscan friar from Crumlin, Dublin 12, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for two counts of indecent assault. A jury found him guilty of anally raping a boy aged nine or ten in 1986 or 1987 at a Church property, and sexually assaulting him after football training in 1985 or 1986. Judge Pauline Codd noted aggravating factors including the breach of trust, grooming, and the lack of remorse or admission of guilt. She also considered Keegan's previous 1999 conviction for gross indecency involving five boys. Despite his frailty and low risk of reoffending, the judge imposed a six-year sentence for the rape and a four-year sentence for the sexual assault. These sentences were ordered to run concurrently. The final year of both terms was suspended, resulting in an effective custody period of five years. Keegan, who was seated in a wheelchair throughout the proceedings, was taken into custody after entering the bond.
Dermot O'Connor, aged 49, was jailed for five and a half years after pleading guilty to raping a 20‑year‑old woman in a public park on 21 July 2019. The victim, who was intoxicated and had separated from her friends, had gone to sleep in the park and was assaulted while sleeping. O'Connor first sexually assaulted her and left, then returned to rape her again. The victim gave a victim impact statement, describing anxiety, depression and fear of being alone after the assault. Mr Justice Michael MacGrath, hearing the case, noted the opportunistic nature of the attack and the delays caused by the pandemic. He imposed a six‑year sentence, suspended the final six months, and took into account the absence of prior sexual offending and the victim's relief at the guilty plea. The investigation involved 60 witness statements, 300 hours of CCTV footage and DNA evidence linking O'Connor to the assault.
A man has been sentenced to nine years imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following his conviction for a four-day assault on a teenager in County Cavan in October 2019. The 27-year-old pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual assault, false imprisonment, assault causing serious harm, making threats to kill, assault causing harm and robbery. He subjected the victim, then aged 19, to violence based on an unfounded belief that the victim had informed on him. Two co-accused, twin siblings aged 23, pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and assault causing harm. The male twin received five years imprisonment with the final two-and-a-half years suspended, while the female twin, previously sentenced in May, received four years with the final three years and three months suspended. The assault came to an end after material posted to social media alerted the victim's family, who located him using a phone tracking device. Mr Justice Michael White imposed strict conditions including probation service supervision and therapeutic intervention on the suspended sentences.
The Court of Appeal has reduced the jail sentence of an unnamed 51-year-old man who pleaded guilty to the sexual assault of his step-daughter, then aged 11, and to producing and distributing child pornography. The appellant challenged the severity of the original six-year sentence imposed by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in July 2020, arguing that the final term of six years and nine months, with nine months suspended, was excessive. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham with Mr Justice John Edwards and Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, upheld the categorisation of the offences in the mid-range but determined that the headline sentence for the two child pornography offences was too high. Consequently, the sentence for those offences was reduced by six months to five years and six months. The original three-year sentence for the sexual assault conviction remained unchanged. The court also imposed a post-release supervision order of six years, with the condition that the appellant receive psychological counselling. The appeal was successful in reducing the total effective custody period, reflecting the court's assessment that the original sentencing did not adequately balance the gravity of the conduct with the specific circumstances of the pornography charges.
Michael Murray, a convicted rapist, was sentenced to 16 further years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for death threats and harassment. The validated procedural stage is an appeal, though the report details the sentencing following his guilty verdict. Murray, who pleaded not guilty to most charges, was found guilty of threatening barristers Dominic McGinn SC and Tony McGillicuddy BL, harassing his rape victim, and possessing a mobile phone in prison. He had previously been jailed for 19 years for rape and abduction. Judge O'Connor described his actions as an "unprecedented and deliberate" abuse of process. Murray was excluded from the hearing after throwing a Bible at the judge. The court imposed nine years for the threat to Mr McGinn and seven years for the threat to Mr McGillicuddy. Additional sentences included seven years for harassing the victim, four years each for harassing Mr McGinn and a solicitor, and five years for phone possession. The nine-year and seven-year sentences were ordered to be served consecutively, resulting in an effective operative sentence of 16 years, to be served after his original 19-year term. Murray was also ordered to have no contact with the three harassed individuals for 30 years. No mitigation was presented.
A 19-year-old was subjected to a four-day ordeal of assault, false imprisonment and sexual abuse at a house in County Cavan between October 17th and 20th, 2019, the Central Criminal Court heard. The main male accused, aged 27, developed an irrational belief that the victim had informed gardaí about him following their joint arrest for drug possession in Dublin. Based on this misconception, he subjected the victim to sustained violence, stabbing him with knives, cutting a crescent shape into his face, and sexually assaulting him. A female co-accused carved the numbers 666 into the victim's forehead, while her twin brother struck the victim with a wrench and dumbbell. Material from the incident was uploaded to Snapchat, enabling the victim's family to locate and rescue him. The main accused pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual assault, assault causing serious harm, false imprisonment, threats to kill, assault causing harm and robbery. He was sentenced to eleven years imprisonment with the final two years suspended. His female co-accused received four years imprisonment with three years and three months suspended.
In a Central Criminal Court case, a 69‑year‑old man was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended on strict conditions. He was convicted of two counts of rape of a niece, one when she was a child in 1977 and another when she was in her twenties in 1986, and of seven counts of indecent assault against the same victim between 1971 and 1974. He also faced three further counts of indecent assault against other child victims between 1982 and 1986. The judge noted the offences were committed when the victims were young, vulnerable and isolated, and that the man had a history of six prior convictions. The sentencing reflected the judge's view that the man's culpability was high and that the crimes caused great harm to the victims. The unnamed man pleaded not guilty.
A 36‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment for two counts of orally raping his youngest brother and for seven counts of assault causing harm to the same brother, plus five counts of assault causing harm to his middle brother. The convictions were obtained by jury at the Central Criminal Court in April, with earlier convictions for assault spanning 1999‑2006. He was found not guilty of a sexual assault allegation against the middle brother. The judge cited the extreme violence inflicted, the long‑term effects, the accused's age and the risk of reoffending as aggravating factors. Sentences for the rapes and assaults were to run concurrently, with the effective term of nine years back‑dated to his detention on 5 February 2020. The case involved testimony of the brothers describing beatings with bamboo poles, baseball bats, hurleys and sticks, and incidents of forced oral contact.
A 37‑year‑old former child carer, whose name is withheld to protect his daughter, admitted to Gardaí that he photographed his daughter, aged about seven or eight, exiting a shower and sent the image online in exchange for explicit photos of his nephew. He pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing, producing and disseminating child pornography and one count of possessing a child sexual abuse image, all relating to Skype conversations from 17–20 February 2016. At a sentence hearing in May, the court noted he had previously been arrested in June 2019 after being flagged for accessing online child sex abuse material. He received a two‑year suspended sentence from Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with the suspension contingent on engagement with the Probation Service, sex‑offender treatment, and therapeutic work. The judge emphasised that the suspended term would involve intensive supervision and that the defendant is prohibited from unsupervised contact with children. No custodial time is imposed.
Slawomir Gierlowski, 37, a father of two from Galtymore Drive, Drimnagh, was convicted of three premeditated attacks on women in Clondalkin between 2011 and 2016. The attacks included a daylight assault with a hunting knife and two late‑night sexual assaults. Witnesses linked a suspect van to Gierlowski, and DNA evidence matched his DNA to a victim's nails and semen on another victim's clothing. Gardaí also found duct tape and cable ties in the van, used in the assaults. A jury found him guilty on all nine charges, including false imprisonment, sexual assault, assault and possession of a hunting knife with intent to intimidate. Judge Pauline Codd imposed consecutive sentences of eight years, nine and a half years and five years, suspending the final four years on the condition of completing sex offender programmes. The sentence was upheld after Gierlowski's appeal to the Court of Appeal was dismissed. Slawomir Gierlowski pleaded not guilty.
Jack Manning, aged 85, a former Christian Brother, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for nine counts of indecent assault on four pupils aged six to eight at Westland Row CBS in the early 1970s. The offences, mainly between September 1972 and June 1973, involved Manning approaching boys to the front of the class, unzipping their trousers, and fondling their genitals. One victim was abused as late as June 1975. The four men, now in their sixties, gave victim impact statements at the sentencing hearing, describing fear, shame and long‑term emotional damage. Manning pleaded guilty to the first charge and admitted the facts of the prosecution case. He was sentenced to two years for the first count and an additional year for the fifth count, to be served consecutively. Manning left the Christian Brothers in 1977 and has since expressed remorse. The judge described his conduct as morally reprehensible and a severe breach of trust.
In a Cork Central Criminal Court case, a 44‑year‑old man was convicted of raping a friend who was sleeping in her daughter's bed with the child beside her. The offence occurred on the night of 3‑4 February 2017 at the woman's home. She reported the assault after discovering the man had slept on her son's bed and had pulled down the zip of her onesie, causing vaginal pain. The victim, who had been friends with the accused for many years, described the impact on her daily life and her children. The judge noted the man had no prior convictions, had worked full‑time, and was in a long‑term relationship with a child due in December. He was sentenced to six years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended, and no post‑release supervision was imposed. The sentence was delivered by Mr Justice Michael MacGrath. The unnamed 44-year-old pleaded not guilty.
A 75-year-old man from Ballyfarnon, County Roscommon, has been sentenced to nine years imprisonment following his conviction at the Central Criminal Court for sexually assaulting and orally raping his partner's daughter between 1998 and 1999. Christopher Ashmore pleaded not guilty to five charges but was found guilty on four counts. The victim, who waived anonymity, gave an impact statement describing how the abuse transformed her from a happy child into one consumed by fear and anxiety. Justice Carmel Stewart noted that Ashmore held a position of trust within the family home and has continued to deny the offences without expressing remorse. The judge sentenced him to ten years for two Section 4 rape offences and three years for two further sexual assaults, with sentences to run concurrently and the final twelve months suspended. Ashmore was also ordered to register as a sex offender.
A 33‑year‑old former security guard, Noel McKeon, lost an appeal against a 14‑year jail term for raping and violently assaulting two escort workers. The Court of Appeal upheld the Court of Appeal's finding that McKeon's attacks on a Latin American woman on 18 June 2016 and a Romanian woman on 2 February 2018 had a 'sinister, xenophobic context'. McKeon had contacted the women via an "escorts" website, pleaded guilty to sexual assault, assault, robbery and rape, and admitted false imprisonment of the first victim. In the first incident he forced the woman to jump naked from a window, stabbed her, and raped her after a violent struggle. In the second he demanded sex without a condom, punched her, pulled her hair, and raped her twice. Justice Tony Hunt imposed consecutive ten‑year sentences, reduced to 16 years with a two‑year suspension on condition of treatment. The appeal was dismissed.
David Masterson, aged 56, was sentenced to 17 years in prison for a series of sexual offences against his daughter, Charlene Masterson, who was 32 at the time of the statement. Masterson used anonymous text messages to blackmail her into sexual acts with men, claiming his job was at risk. He also sexually abused her over a seven‑and‑a‑half‑year period, including oral rape and sexual assault, and had sexual encounters with three other girls. Masterson was already serving a seven‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for defilement offences and had 17 prior convictions, including child pornography. The court imposed 18 years for each of the four counts of oral rape, suspending the final year and ordering one year of post‑release supervision, and five years for two sexual assault offences, running concurrently for an effective operative sentence of 18 years with the final year suspended. The sentences were back‑dated to 26 June 2019. David Masterson pleaded guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a defence barrister argued that the alleged sexual abuse of three children by family members would be "extraordinary" if it occurred under the intense scrutiny of State agencies. The barrister described the family's care as "tremendous and monumental" and likened the oversight to a "police helicopter" hovering over the house. He questioned the adequacy of Gardaí interviews, suggesting that the mother's admissions were not thoroughly probed and that the officers failed to pursue deeper evidence. The mother, aged 34, pleaded not guilty to 25 counts, including sexual assault and wilfully neglecting children, while the father, 56, pleaded not guilty to 31 counts. Other relatives also pleaded not guilty to various sexual and neglect charges. The trial was scheduled to continue before Mr Justice Paul McDermott.
In a 2021 decision, the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal of a 56‑year‑old travelling salesman who had been convicted of raping a 24‑year‑old female assistant at a fair in County Cork in 2015. The appeal was based on three grounds, including the alleged inadmissibility of text messages exchanged between the salesman, the victim and another female employee. The Court found the messages had evidential value in showing the salesman's intent to have intercourse with the employee and that the appeal had no basis. The judge who had sentenced the salesman to five years' imprisonment in 2018, Mr Justice Paul McDermott, had ruled the conviction valid. The Court also rejected claims that the trial judge had given an unbalanced charge to the jury, describing the charge as "impeccable, balanced and thoughtful.".
A 54‑year‑old man was convicted by a jury at the Central Criminal Court for sexually assaulting a woman he claimed to have married in a Muslim ceremony. The jury found him guilty on one count of rape but was deadlocked on the remaining four counts. Judge Alex Owens described the defendant as a "schemer" who believed the ceremony gave him permission to act. He noted the woman was seeking asylum and was vulnerable to manipulation. The judge imposed a six‑year sentence, suspending the final six months on the condition of good behaviour, and ordered a four‑year post‑release supervision. The woman, aged 36, testified that she was not married, that the alleged ceremony was a precursor to marriage, and that she suffered depression and PTSD after the assault. The case was heard in July 2021. The unnamed 54-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In a Munster abuse trial, a 27‑year‑old uncle pleaded not guilty to nine counts of rape, oral rape, anal rape, sexual assault and sexual exploitation, claiming he "witnessed nothing" and "did nothing." The charges, covering incidents between 18 August 2014 and 28 April 2016, involved a girl and one boy. A count of sexual exploitation of the eldest boy was withdrawn by the judge. The trial also involves five other family members—parents, aunt and uncles—who are accused of abusing three children between 2014 and 2016. All accused deny the allegations. The case against the uncle's 32‑year‑old partner and the children's grandmother was withdrawn. The trial continues next week before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury. The uncle's statements and the judge's withdrawals are the only procedural developments reported.
In Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court, a 31‑year‑old man was originally sentenced to 12 years in prison, with the last three years suspended, for defiling a 14‑year‑old girl and a 16‑year‑old girl at his apartment between 2017 and 2018. He pleaded guilty to both defilement offences and to two further counts of meeting a child for sexual exploitation. The Court of Appeal found the original 12‑year sentence excessive, reducing the headline sentence to 11 years. After considering mitigating factors, the court imposed a nine‑year prison term, suspending the final two years for ten years. The man remains on the Sex Offenders Register for life. The appeal was based on the judge's assessment of the gravity of the offences and the appellant's conduct, described as "cunning, manipulative and offensive.".
In a Munster child‑abuse trial, Judge Paul McDermott directed the jury to return a not‑guilty verdict by direction for the 32‑year‑old woman who had been charged with four counts of sexual assault and exploitation. The judge withdrew those charges, stating there was no evidence to support them, and the woman would no longer be an accused. He also withdrew three charges against the children's father, one against the uncle, and two against a third man, entering not‑guilty by direction for each. The trial continues against the remaining accused, who have all pleaded not guilty to various counts of rape, assault, exploitation and neglect. The judge emphasized his responsibility to determine which counts remain based on the evidence presented. The case remains ongoing before Mr Justice McDermott.