An 84‑year‑old taxi driver, John Walker, was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment for sexually abusing his adopted daughter, Jennifer Kelly, over a ten‑year period from 1990 to 2000. The jury found him guilty on 40 counts of indecent assault and sexual assault, with the abuse occurring at his home in The Cova, Whitehall Road, Perrystown, Dublin, and at a former address in Kilmasogue Grove, Greenpark. Walker denied the allegations and claimed no prior convictions. Judge Patricia Ryan noted the pre‑meditated, planned nature of the abuse, the victim's age and vulnerability, and Walker's lack of remorse. The court considered his age, health conditions and past community contributions before imposing the sentence. The abuse involved repeated kissing and fondling, verbal threats, and control tactics, culminating when Kelly disclosed the abuse to Gardaí in 2018. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The unnamed 84-year-old pleaded not guilty.
A 50‑year‑old Dublin man, whose name is withheld, was due to stand trial for three counts of rape and one count of sexual assault against his two nephews at a Dublin address in 2009. A Central Criminal Court judge, Ms Justice Tara Burns, ruled that the man is unfit to stand trial because he suffers from a mental disorder under the Mental Health Act. She noted that he cannot make a legal defence, understand evidence or instruct legal representation, and is unsuitable for treatment at the Central Mental Hospital. A consultant psychiatrist, Dr John Hillery, assessed him as having a mild to moderate mental disability, hearing impairment, inability to read or write, limited comprehension, and a very vulnerable, solitary lifestyle. Dr Hillery and another forensic psychiatrist, Dr Anthony Kearns, agreed that the man's intellectual disability and limited understanding of the charges made him unfit to plead. The proceedings were adjourned until further notice.
A 33‑year‑old convicted sex offender was sentenced to two years and four months in prison for assaulting Garda Barry Purcell, who was assisting social workers in removing the offender's baby from his care. The offender, who has 23 prior convictions, was found guilty by a jury of assault causing harm on 16 June 2016 and does not accept the verdict. Judge Karen O'Connor cited aggravating factors, including the psychological damage to the Garda, and noted the offender's pattern of disregard for the law. The sentence was back‑dated to account for five months the offender had already spent in custody for a separate sexual assault conviction. Garda Purcell suffered swelling and bruising to his hand and forearm, and the incident affected his future interactions with the public. The offender claimed he was provoked by racial abuse during the confrontation. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, a 33‑year‑old African man, who cannot be named to protect his child's identity, was convicted of assaulting Garda Barry Purcell on 16 June 2016. The assault occurred after social workers visited the man's home to remove his son from his care; the visit became heated and the man threw glasses and punched the garda, causing swelling and bruising to the garda's hand and forearm. The garda, who has served 12 years, said the injuries had cleared but the incident left him hesitant and fearful in certain situations. The accused, who has 23 previous convictions and a five‑month sentence for a prior sexual assault, does not accept the jury verdict. Judge Karen O'Connor remanded him in custody and adjourned sentencing to 6 December. The garda also reported that the accused tried to "blacken his reputation" by calling him a racist during the trial. The case remains pending.
A 74-year-old man from Crolly, County Donegal, appeared before the Court of Appeal on 28 November to challenge his conviction for sexually abusing a teenage boy over three decades ago. John Barrow had been found guilty by jury of six counts of indecent assault against the then 14-year-old between August 1989 and September 1990. He was sentenced to six years imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, in June 2017. During today's appeal hearing, Barrow's legal counsel argued that a significant inconsistency in the prosecution case concerning when the complainant was in sixth class undermined the indictment's timeframe. The Director of Public Prosecutions' representative maintained there was sufficient evidence for the jury to assess credibility. The three-judge panel reserved judgement, with the court expected to deliver its decision on 10 December.
A 69‑year‑old man was sentenced by a Central Criminal Court jury to 20 years' imprisonment for indecent assault and rape of his grandson between 2004 and 2015, and for indecent assault, rape and attempted rape of three daughters between 1981 and 1987. The sentences were consecutive, giving a headline term of 20 years. The Court of Appeal, after hearing the case, suspended the final two‑and‑a‑half years of the sentence, citing the defendant's age and the likelihood that he would die in custody. The court kept the 20‑year term but removed the last 2½ years from the period to be served. The barrister for the defendant argued that a 20‑year sentence would effectively mean the man would serve the rest of his life in prison, while the Director of Public Prosecutions noted that 69 was not "very old" and that no medical evidence suggested ill‑health. The unnamed 69-year-old pleaded guilty and was convicted.
A man in his 70s has filed a High Court challenge to stop his trial for five charges of indecent assault against his cousin, who was a teenage secondary school student in the early to mid‑1980s. The alleged offences are said to have taken place at the accused's home when he was in his 30s. The complainant claims the accused groomed and exploited her during her teens. The accused denies the allegations and argues that the passage of time, the death of witnesses, lost evidence, lack of precise dates in the charges, and his deteriorating neurological health have prejudiced his right to a fair trial. He seeks to quash the indictment and the decision to send him to trial, and to declare that his continued prosecution breaches his constitutional and European Convention rights. Mr Justice Charles Meenan granted permission on an ex‑parte basis, putting a stay on the prosecution and adjourned the matter to January.
David Masterson, 54, from Tallaght, Dublin, was remanded in September 2017 after being caught with child pornography. He pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three defilement charges dated between February and December 2016, and to possession and distribution of child pornography on 14 November 2015. Masterson had sexual encounters with three under‑age girls, one of whom was 17 when the relationship began in February 2016 and continued after she turned 18. The other two girls were 15 and 17 at the times of the alleged encounters. A laptop seized in November 2015 contained 5,121 images and 196 videos, many depicting pre‑teen boys and girls in sexual activities with adults. The court adjourned the case to 20 December, ordering psychological and governor's reports. Masterson has not taken bail since his remand.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, a 17‑year‑old boy was sentenced to 18 months in jail for defilement of a 14‑year‑old girl. The accused, now 19, had previously claimed he believed "consent was consent" and was unaware that a person under 17 could not consent. He pleaded guilty to the offence committed in May 2018 at a Dublin location while in state care. The judge, Martin Nolan, noted the boy's cooperation, lack of prior convictions, and difficult upbringing, but also that the girl's age made the offence aggravating. He imposed a three‑year sentence, suspending the final 18 months. The prosecution and defence both highlighted the boy's lack of knowledge of the age of consent and his remorse, but the court upheld the custodial sentence. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
A 49-year-old man from Co Wicklow was sentenced to seven years in prison after being convicted by a jury at the Central Criminal Court of four counts of rape and two counts of indecent assault. The offences, which occurred between 1987 and 1989, involved the sexual abuse of a child who was approximately nine years old at the time. The defendant had pleaded not guilty to all charges. Mr Justice Michael White set a headline sentence of 11 years but reduced it to seven, citing the man's constructive life since the offending. The court noted the victim's exceptional courage, as she gave evidence six times across multiple trials, several of which collapsed due to witness unavailability or document issues before the final conviction in March. The judge ruled that an existing order preventing the publication of the victim's and the offender's names would remain in place. The victim, now a married mother, stated she came forward in 2013 to right a terrible wrong and finally achieved justice and closure. Defence counsel highlighted the defendant's good character and the impact a custodial sentence would have on his son with special needs.
A man has been sentenced to twelve years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court following his conviction on charges of rape, oral rape, and sexual assault. Richard Moloney, aged 41, of Tullaskeagh Drive, Roscrea, County Tipperary, was found guilty of offences against his then 16-year-old foster daughter at their home on 16 July 2016. The jury's verdict followed trial in July this year. Mr Justice Alex Owens imposed the sentence this morning, noting Moloney's breach of trust as a foster parent and his denial of wrongdoing throughout proceedings. The judge described the crimes' impact on the victim as profoundly destructive. A four-year post-release supervision order was also imposed, with conditions including distance from the victim and engagement in alcohol treatment. Moloney carries ten previous convictions for assault and public order matters. The victim, who has waived anonymity, expressed satisfaction with the sentencing outside court.
Two Leitrim men were convicted by a jury at the Central Criminal Court following an 11-day trial. The first accused was found guilty of rape, while the second accused was found guilty of oral rape by majority verdict. The jury failed to reach an agreement on the count of rape against the second man. Both defendants had pleaded not guilty to the charges, which alleged they raped a woman in a flat in 2017 after she blacked out at a party. The prosecution alleged the complainant was vulnerable and unable to consent, while the defense maintained she was aware and consented. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon rejected defense submissions for bail, stating the men had been found guilty of very serious charges and their remand status must change. She remanded both men into custody for a sentence hearing scheduled for January 17. The men cannot be named to protect the complainant's anonymity. The jury's deliberations lasted just over six hours, with the foreman initially reporting a deadlock before the judge allowed a majority verdict.
A 66‑year‑old man from Munster was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment, with one year suspended, for raping his adult special‑needs daughter twice in 2016 while her mother was terminally ill in hospital. The judge described the offences as an egregious breach of trust, noting the daughter's vulnerability and the aggravating factor of the mother's illness. The defendant pleaded guilty, which the court considered mitigating, and he expressed remorse and apologized to his daughter. He was ordered to participate in the Better Lives Programme and to have no contact with his daughter during the suspended year, except under supervision. Social services will issue a care order for the daughter, and the judge extended best wishes to her, acknowledging her continued bond with her father and the pain she endured. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the crime and the defendant's background of childhood neglect and abuse.
The rape trial of two men at the Central Criminal Court was adjourned after the jury reported being deadlocked. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon informed the nine-man and three-woman jury that they could return a majority verdict, requiring at least ten jurors to agree. The jury had deliberated for three hours and previously requested to hear the complainant's evidence again, which was read from a transcript. The prosecution alleges that on a date in 2017, the complainant woke in a bedroom to find the defendants raping her on two occasions. Both accused pleaded not guilty to rape; the second accused also denies a charge of oral rape. The defendants, who knew the complainant from school, assert the activity was consensual. Defense counsel for the first accused argued the complainant made the allegation due to distress over overheard conversations, while counsel for the second accused contended the prosecution's claim that she was comatose was unsupported, noting witnesses saw her smiling and cuddling. Prosecution counsel highlighted that the first accused had recently moved into the flat, purchased condoms, and texted friends that he had "christened" the flat. The jury was sent home to resume deliberations on Tuesday morning.
A man convicted of sexually assaulting a young child has been remanded in custody at the Central Criminal Court following his apprehension. The 24-year-old was found guilty on all fourteen counts of sexual assault at two Dublin locations between June 2008 and October 2011, when the victim was aged between five and eight years old. A jury returned unanimous verdicts after a four-day trial in May 2018. The defendant absconded before the verdict was delivered and remained at large for several months. Mr Justice Michael White imposed a seven-year sentence in December 2018 in the man's absence. Upon his arrest today, the court formally recorded that the sentence will commence from the date of his apprehension. The judge noted the defendant's youth as a mitigating factor, as he was himself a minor during the offences. A victim impact statement detailed the child's ongoing psychological trauma. The defendant was arrested in County Cavan, where he had relocated with his family. The unnamed 24-year-old pleaded not guilty.
A man has had his sentence increased following an appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions on grounds of undue leniency. Aurelijus Kizelavicius, aged 23, of Knocktornagh, Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, pleaded guilty to rape and assault causing harm to a woman on 29 March 2015. The Central Criminal Court heard the woman had accepted a late-night lift from Kizelavicius after becoming stranded in Monaghan town. Upon reaching her home, he attacked her with repeated punches to the face before sexually assaulting her. Mr Justice Paul Butler originally imposed a five-year sentence with the final two years suspended in April 2018. The Court of Appeal today increased the custodial term to seven years with the final two suspended. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy described the offence as a serious rape involving significant additional violence. She noted the victim sustained facial injuries and referenced adverse probation reports and disciplinary breaches in custody. The court also heard the man has agreed to participate in a sex offenders programme.
A 68‑year‑old Dublin man pleaded guilty in July 2019 to five counts of indecent assault on his daughter between 1985 and 1986, when she was aged nine to ten. He later denied the abuse to the Probation Service, claiming he had no idea why his daughter would make the allegations. He appeared in court unrepresented and confirmed he did not wish to alter his guilty pleas, stating he was "guilty" and would feel "forever guilty." Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced him to nine years, suspending the final year on the condition he completes all available sexual‑abuse courses in custody. The sentence was delivered in the presence of the victim, who broke down in tears. She said she had spoken out to stop abuse that had persisted for three generations and expressed forgiveness toward her father.
The Central Criminal Court trial of two men accused of raping a woman in a Leitrim flat in 2017 has entered jury deliberations. The first accused pleaded not guilty to rape, while the second accused pleaded not guilty to rape and oral rape. Prosecution counsel Eilis Brennan SC argued that the defendants did not care if the victim was consenting, citing evidence that they invited other men to the bedroom and made derogatory comments outside the room. The complainant testified that she woke to find the men raping her on two occasions. In defense, Conor Devally SC for the first accused contended that the sex was consensual and that the complainant later felt demeaned by the behavior of others, leading her to reconstruct the night. Colm Smyth SC for the second accused argued that the prosecution's claim of incapacity was a "spin," asserting the woman was in full control and had consented to oral sex. He also criticized the Garda investigation, alleging that untested DNA evidence was not seized. The jury began deliberations after lunch and will resume on Monday morning.
Two men from Leitrim have pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to charges of rape arising from an alleged incident in a flat in the county in 2017. The prosecution alleges that on two occasions during one night, a woman regained consciousness to find herself being raped by the defendants. The second accused also denies oral rape. The accused men, now in their 20s and known to the complainant from school, have entered pleas of not guilty. During the trial before Justice Eileen Creedon, the first defendant told gardaí he was being "set up" and that all sexual contact had been consensual. He claimed the woman later felt betrayed when he left the bedroom to address discomfort with his contact lenses. The prosecution contends the woman was too intoxicated to consent and that the defendant was aware of this. The trial continues.
In a hearing before Mr Justice Paul McDermott, the Central Criminal Court set the earliest possible release dates for two teenage boys convicted of murdering and sexually assaulting 14‑year‑old Ana Kriegel. Boy A, now 15, faces a life sentence with a review after 12 years and an additional eight‑year term for aggravated sexual assault; his earliest release from the custodial portion is June 18, 2031. Boy B, also 15, received a 15‑year detention sentence with a review after eight years; his earliest release is June 18, 2027. Both boys will be detained at a young offenders centre until age 18, then transferred to an adult prison. Mr Justice McDermott ordered bi‑annual probation, governor and education reports to be prepared for the reviewing court, beginning after their release from Oberstown detention centre. The reports aim to inform the court of the boys' development and progress, not to micro‑manage their sentences.
Two Leitrim men have pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to charges of rape and oral rape following an alleged incident at a flat in a Co Leitrim town in 2017. A witness told the trial that the first accused emerged from a bedroom and disclosed he had engaged in sexual activity with the woman, displaying scratches on his back. The witness further testified that the second accused stated he would attempt oral sex with the woman, claiming prior consent to such activity. Medical evidence presented indicated the complainant had bruising in her throat and a swollen uvula. The woman testified she did not consent to sexual contact with either man and had lost consciousness before finding them engaged in sexual activity with her upon regaining awareness. The trial before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury continues.
A man has been sentenced to ten years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following his conviction on twenty-four counts of indecent assault. Thomas Patton, aged 51, was found guilty by jury in July of abusing his young cousin over a six-year period between 1984 and 1990 at Castlefinn, County Donegal. The offending began when the victim was six years old. Judge Melanie Greally imposed four years for offences committed when Patton was a minor and six years for those committed in adulthood, to run consecutively. The judge cited the extreme nature of the abuse, its duration and regularity, the victim's age, breach of trust, and severe psychological harm as aggravating factors. In mitigation, she noted Patton's youth during the initial offences, absence of previous convictions, and subsequent productive life. The victim, who waived anonymity, described lasting trauma and family division resulting from disclosure. Thomas Patton pleaded not guilty.
At the Central Criminal Court, a trial heard that a woman alleging rape initially described three men as being involved in the assault. The complainant told the court she attended a party at a flat in a County Leitrim town in 2017 where she consumed alcohol. She stated she lost consciousness and awoke to find the first accused assaulting her. She reported hearing male voices and subsequently blacked out again, regaining consciousness as the second accused was assaulting her. Two Leitrim men have pleaded not guilty to rape charges. The second accused also denies oral rape. During cross-examination, the defence put to the complainant that she had previously given an account involving three assailants. The complainant confirmed this, noting she had heard voices in the room. A nurse from the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit in Mullingar confirmed the complainant initially reported three men were involved. The nurse stated she observed genital injuries consistent with non-consensual activity, though acknowledged such injuries could also occur during consensual contact.
David O'Brien, aged 67, was sentenced by Judge Karen O'Connor at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a total of eight years' imprisonment for indecent assault on four boys between 1972 and 1981. The sentence was imposed on four separate counts, each carrying two years, and the final 18 months were suspended on the condition of 12 months' probation. O'Brien pleaded guilty to eight counts of indecent assault and had previously been jailed for six and a half years in 2015 for similar offences. He admitted to molesting a number of boys while a scout leader, including fondling and non‑penetrative acts, and claimed he had abused between 30 and 40 children. The court noted his guilty plea and expressed remorse, but emphasised the breach of trust and the victims' loss of childhood innocence. The victims gave impact statements describing lasting physical and emotional harm, and the judge praised their courage.
At the Central Criminal Court, a woman has given evidence of alleged sexual assaults following a party in a County Leitrim flat in 2017. The complainant told the jury she awoke twice from unconsciousness to find herself being assaulted by two men she had previously known. She recalled hearing male voices outside the bedroom discussing how to remove her from the premises. Both defendants, now in their 20s, have pleaded not guilty to rape. The second accused additionally denies oral rape. The men maintain the sexual contact was consensual. During examination, the woman described physical force, throat pressure, and distress. She subsequently contacted her boyfriend and attended a Sexual Assault Treatment Unit for examination. The court heard she received a Snapchat message saying "soz" from the first accused. The trial before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury continues.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has convicted two men of raping a woman in County Donegal in February 2015. Boakye Osei, aged 29, of Tooban, Burnfoot, and Kelvin Opoku, aged 33, of Cill Graine, Letterkenny, pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape. Following a five-week trial, the jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts after deliberating for just over two hours. The court heard that the men met the woman and her friend after a night out and invited them to their flat. The complainant, now in her twenties, testified she was extremely intoxicated and unable to consent to any sexual activity. Mr Justice Alex Owens certified both men as sex offenders and ordered a Probation Service report and victim impact statement. He remanded them in custody pending sentencing on 13 January 2020.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 5 November 2019, Mr Justice Paul McDermott sentenced a 15‑year‑old boy, referred to only as Boy A, to life imprisonment for the violent sexual assault and murder of 14‑year‑old Ana Kriegel. The sentence will be reviewed after 12 years. The judge described the crime as the most serious, disturbing and shocking type, citing the extreme violence used, including a headlock, choke hold, kicking, striking with a stick and a block. Boy A had previously denied the sexual assault and offered an alternative explanation for forensic evidence. The prosecution presented CCTV footage, DNA evidence linking Boy A to Ana's body and scene, and circumstantial evidence of injuries he claimed were from a random assault. Ana was found dead in an abandoned house in Lucan on 14 May 2018, with blunt‑force injuries to the head and neck. The unnamed accused was convicted.
At the Central Criminal Court, the trial of two men accused of raping a student in a Donegal town in February 2015 has reached the closing submissions stage. The accused, aged 29 and 33, both pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape. The complainant alleged she was too intoxicated to consent after a night of drinking. Prosecution counsel Seamus Clarke SC argued that video evidence demonstrated the complainant's severe intoxication and lack of consent, noting the older man admitted intercourse while the younger denied it, despite DNA evidence linking him to the incident. Defence counsel Colman Fitzgerald SC and Barry White SC contended the State failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the complainant did not consent or that the accused knew she did not. They highlighted potential reasonable doubts regarding the level of intoxication and suggested DNA traces could result from cross-contamination. Mr Justice Alex Owens adjourned the matter, instructing the jury to begin deliberations after he continues his charge tomorrow. The case remains unresolved pending the jury's verdict.
An unnamed 26-year-old man, who cannot be named to protect the victim's identity, received a fully suspended sentence at the Central Criminal Court following an appeal process. The appellant had previously been convicted of rape in 2016, a verdict quashed by the Court of Appeal in 2018 due to improper questioning regarding the complainant's contraceptive use. In the subsequent proceedings, he pleaded guilty to defilement of a child at his family address on October 4 and 5, 2014, while pleading not guilty to an alleged rape on the same dates. A jury acquitted him of the rape charge in July of this year. Mr Justice Paul McDermott sentenced the man to 15 months imprisonment, suspended in full for two years, conditional on his compliance with Probation Service directions. The judge also ordered that the man must not approach the victim or her family by any means. Although the man had served 24 months in custody following the initial trial, the court noted his late guilty plea, lack of prior convictions, and family circumstances as mitigating factors. The judge criticized the appellant for abusing the criminal justice process through persistent lying and subjecting the victim to extensive cross-examination. The matter was not adjourned; the sentence was finalized with the specified conditions and prohibitions.
A 29-year-old man accused of rape has made no comment when questioned about forensic evidence linking him to the alleged offence, the Central Criminal Court has heard. The defendant, a non-national residing in Donegal, is charged alongside a 33-year-old co-accused with two counts of rape of a woman in February 2015. Both men have pleaded not guilty. Forensic evidence presented during trial indicated that semen found on the complainant's underwear and inside a condom retrieved from the flat where the alleged assault occurred matched the defendant's DNA profile. When gardaí informed the accused of these findings and afforded him an opportunity to respond, he declined to comment. The prosecution concluded its case on Friday. The defence indicated it will not call witnesses. Closing arguments are scheduled for Monday, with jury deliberations expected to commence Tuesday following the judge's charge.
At the Central Criminal Court, a 29-year-old man has denied allegations that he and a co-accused exchanged sexual activity with a woman during an incident in County Donegal in February 2015. Both men, non-nationals residing in the county, have pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape. The complainant alleges she was too intoxicated to consent. The younger defendant told gardaí he had no sexual contact with the woman, though he acknowledged another person made contact with him. He disputed the complainant's account that the two men "swapped over," characterising her statement as false. When presented with mobile phone video evidence showing the complainant in an intoxicated state within the flat, the accused questioned why the woman's companion did not seek police assistance or leave the premises. He maintained his innocence, stating he would not have driven them home had he committed wrongdoing. The trial continues before Judge Alex Owens and a jury.
Brendan Clifford, 34, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to sexual exploitation of a child and sexual assault of another child at Tallaght Hospital in 2015. The victims, siblings aged nine and ten, were brought to the hospital by Clifford, who posed as a talent agent named David White. He administered cream to the children's legs, bum and penis, and requested removal of their underwear during treatment. The mother, suspicious after receiving an email from a purported agent, discovered the deception. Clifford had no prior convictions and is married with three children. He was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions, including probation supervision for 18 months after release. The judge described his conduct as "very devious" and "perverse.".
A 23‑year‑old substitute teacher pleaded guilty to two counts of defilement for having sex with a 16‑year‑old pupil. The offences occurred in early 2018 at Gormanston Beach and the Carlton Hotel, after the teacher had bought the boy gifts on his birthday. She waited until his 16th birthday, believing that was the legal age of consent, and then engaged in sexual activity in her car and at the hotel. Judge Martin Nolan accepted her belief but found her reckless and that, as a teacher, she should have known the law. He sentenced her to three years' imprisonment, suspending the final two years on the condition of good behaviour for two years after release. The judge noted her early guilty plea, cooperation and lack of prior convictions as mitigating factors. The teacher's contract was terminated and she is no longer employed in education. The boy suffered anxiety and depression as a result of the abuse.
A 29-year-old man accused of rape has had his trial at the Central Criminal Court hear evidence that semen matching his profile was discovered on the alleged victim's underwear. The accused, a non-national residing in Donegal, denies the charge alongside a 33-year-old co-accused. Both men have pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape alleged to have occurred in a Donegal town in February 2015. Forensic scientist Dr David Casey testified that the probability of the semen originating from another individual was less than one in 1,000 million. The complainant has alleged she was too intoxicated to consent to sexual activity. The accused told gardaí following arrest that he did not engage in any sexual contact with the woman, and that his semen would not be present at the location. His account to gardaí described consensual activity with the woman's companion rather than the complainant herself. The trial before Judge Alex Owens continues.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 23‑year‑old substitute teacher pleaded guilty to two counts of defilement after having sex with a 16‑year‑old pupil. The teacher, who had been working at the school when the boy was in his fifth year of secondary school, met him in an over‑18s nightclub and began communicating via Snapchat. In early 2018, on the boy's 16th birthday, she drove him to Gormanston Beach where they kissed and had sexual intercourse. A month later, she took him to a hotel room she had booked, where they again kissed and had sex. The boy later told his parents he had stayed at a friend's house, and the teacher's contract was terminated after the school discovered her identity. The teacher claimed she believed 16 was the legal age of consent and had no prior convictions. The court adjourned the case for a verdict.
A 68‑year‑old Polish man was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment for raping a non‑national cleaner who lived with him in Galway. The Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty of two counts of rape and four counts of oral rape committed between 2012 and 2016. The victim, who was pregnant after the first rape, described how the accused treated her as a slave, a sex object and a tool for his sexual gratification, forcing her to kneel, obey and be quiet. She said he destroyed her life and that of her partner and family. The judge, Ms Justice Tara Burns, noted the absence of mitigating factors and imposed a 15‑year term, taking into account the man's age and health. The accused denied the charges and claimed a consensual relationship. The victim's impact report was read into the record, and she was not present for the sentencing hearing. The unnamed 68-year-old was convicted.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, the mother of 14‑year‑old Ana Kriegel described her daughter as an "ephemeral angel" and said her family was devastated by her murder. The court heard that the defendant known as Boy A admitted he caused Ana's death but denied sexually assaulting her, while Boy B rejected the unanimous jury verdict that found him guilty of murder. Boy A was also convicted of aggravated sexual assault involving serious violence. The court noted that Boy A's semen was found on Ana's top and that forensic evidence showed she had been sexually assaulted, her clothes torn, and her blood on the walls of the derelict building where she was found. Both boys were 13 at the time of the crime and are now 15, having been convicted by unanimous jury verdicts earlier this year. The judge will sentence them on November 5.
During a sentence hearing, Boy A, now 15, admitted choking Ana Kriegel, striking her with a stick and a concrete block, but denied sexually assaulting her. Detective Inspector Mark O'Neill informed Brendan Grehan SC that psychiatric and psychological reports led Boy A to accept responsibility for Ana's death. He described actions such as a headlock, choke hold, kicking, and hitting her with a stick and a block, which he either threw or struck off her head on three occasions. Boy A maintains he did not sexually assault Ana and offered an alternative explanation for forensic evidence. Inspector O'Neill noted that semen was found on Ana's top and that the boys had planned the murder. The hearing continues at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Paul McDermott. The two 13‑year‑old boys were convicted by unanimous jury verdicts earlier this year for Ana's murder and, for Boy A, her aggravated sexual assault involving serious violence.
A 33-year-old non-national man and a 29-year-old co-accused, both resident in Donegal, have pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape following an alleged incident in February 2015. The case is being heard before the Central Criminal Court with a jury and Judge Alex Owens. Defence counsel for the older accused contended that gardaí never offered him an interpreter, despite his non-English-speaking background. A garda witness who supervised custody said he would have provided an interpreter had he observed any comprehension difficulties, and stated the defendant never indicated he required one. The officer noted neither the accused nor his solicitor raised concerns during interviews exceeding two hours in duration. Counsel highlighted that gardaí questioned the defendant about the legal definition of rape towards the end of one interview, suggesting possible understanding issues. The garda witness maintained this reflected standard practice and that the defendant conversed adequately in English. The trial resumed on Wednesday before the jury.
A 68‑year‑old Polish man, previously convicted of rape in Poland and serving a three‑year sentence for a threat to kill in Ireland, was found guilty by a jury on two counts of rape and four counts of oral rape committed between 2012 and 2016. The victim, a non‑national cleaner who lived with the accused in Galway, was raped while she worked for him and became pregnant. She described the abuse as controlling and violent, noting that the accused demanded sex and forced her to perform oral sex on four occasions. The accused has medical problems and does not speak English; his defence argued that a full tariff would mean life imprisonment. The court adjourned sentencing to 30 October, and the victim's impact statement was read into the record. The accused does not accept the verdict.
The Central Criminal Court will hold a sentence hearing for the two 15‑year‑old boys, known as Boy A and Boy B, who were convicted of murdering 14‑year‑old Ana Kriegel in an abandoned house on Clonee Road, Lucan, on 14 May 2018. The hearing, scheduled for next Tuesday, will include a summary of evidence presented by a Garda detective inspector and a statement from Ana's parents. Mr Justice Paul McDermott received psychological and psychiatric reports on the boys. Boy A was also convicted of Ana's aggravated sexual assault involving serious violence.
Murad Khandokar, 47, was sentenced to three years in prison for sexually assaulting a 26‑year‑old woman on a Dublin bus on 30 April 2016. During the 15‑20 minute journey he attempted to pry the woman's legs apart and tried to penetrate her with his fingers, while also touching her thighs and attempting to use a baseball cap to conceal his hand. The victim, who was wearing leggings, resisted and froze, describing the experience as being "hemmed in" and terrified. Khandokar had previously been convicted of sexual assault, harassment and breach of a barring order. He pleaded guilty, and Judge Martin Nolan imposed a four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspending the final 18 months on conditions including probation supervision after release. The case was brought by Garda Louise Carroll, who noted the victim's complaint and CCTV evidence that identified Khandokar. The victim's impact statement highlighted her frustration, anger, shame and desire for consequences.
A 33-year-old Donegal man accused of rape has denied allegations that gardaí presented video evidence showing him pouring alcohol into a woman's mouth at his apartment in February 2015. The defendant and a 29-year-old co-accused, both from the county, have pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape. During trial at the Central Criminal Court, gardaí played mobile phone footage to the jury allegedly depicting the accused assisting the complainant to drink and later lifting her off the floor while she staggered. The accused maintained during garda interviews that the woman consented to sexual activity and was not intoxicated at that time, though acknowledging she appeared unsteady in the recorded footage. Gardaí suggested to him that the complainant was too intoxicated to consent, which the accused denied. When questioned about the legal definition of rape, the accused stated it involved forcing someone, initially appearing uncertain whether intoxication prevented consent. The trial before Justice Alex Owens continues with jury evidence ongoing.
Michael Malone, aged 50, was convicted of indecent assault and sexual assault of two boys in Wexford between 1989 and 1992. He pleaded guilty to sample counts of sexual assault of each child. The court noted the systematic nature of the abuse, the grooming of the boys, and the breach of trust. Malone's guilty plea, remorse, and the fact that he was a young man at the time were considered mitigating factors. He was sentenced to two years imprisonment on each of the two sample counts, with one year suspended from each sentence. The suspended years are conditional on Malone remaining under Probation Service supervision for two years after release. All sentences run consecutively, giving an operating sentence of eight years imprisonment, with the final four years suspended. The court praised the courage of the two complainants and highlighted the serious impact on the victims. The case also referenced Malone's earlier convictions for indecent assault in the 1980s.
David O'Brien, a former scout leader, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to eight counts of indecent assault relating to four boys between January 1, 1972, and December 31, 1981. The court heard that O'Brien admitted to gardaí in 1997 that he was "molesting" young boys in the scouts, yet a direction was made not to prosecute. He was previously jailed for four-and-a-half years in October 2015 for sexually abusing six young boys on camping trips in the late 1970s and 80s. Prosecution evidence detailed allegations of fondling and non-penetrative abuse during scouting trips in Wicklow and Meath. Victim impact statements described lasting psychological and physical effects, including trust issues and stress-related health problems. Defense counsel noted that O'Brien accepted he committed grave wrongs and apologized for his behavior. Judge Karen O'Connor remanded O'Brien in custody and adjourned the matter for sentencing on November 7.
Paul Flaherty, 32, was convicted by a jury at the Central Criminal Court for sexually assaulting a woman he met on Tinder at his home in Tallaght on 31 August 2015. The victim had made it clear she was not interested in sexual contact, yet Flaherty forced her to remove her trousers, threatened to kill her and allegedly strangled and touched her genitals. He denied the charges, claiming the encounter was consensual role‑play and that the victim had initiated contact. The trial judge, Mr Justice Michael White, sentenced him to five years imprisonment, describing his behaviour as "disgusting". The Court of Appeal upheld the conviction but reduced the sentence to two‑and‑a‑half years imprisonment, noting the offence could not be described as a minor sexual assault. No prior sexual convictions were recorded for Flaherty. The appeal decision was made by Mr Justice George Birmingham, joined by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy.
The trial of two men accused of raping a student in County Donegal has resumed at the Central Criminal Court following four days of legal argument. Both defendants, aged 29 and 33 and residing in Donegal, have pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape alleged to have occurred in a Donegal town in February 2015. Evidence heard today included testimony from gardaí regarding a search of premises where the alleged offences took place. A garda witness described attending the location with a search warrant and finding nobody present. Officers remained at the scene to preserve it. One of the defendants subsequently arrived and identified himself as a resident. He was arrested on suspicion of rape and cautioned, with interviews later recorded on DVD. The trial continues before Mr Justice Alex Owens and a jury.
Stephen Gregan, 38, pleaded guilty to sexual assault of an 11‑year‑old in a Penneys shop in Dundrum Town Centre on 10 June 2017. Garda Jennifer Quinn reported that the child was with friends when Gregan pushed up against her and squeezed her behind, an act the child described as deliberate. Gregan initially claimed it was accidental but later admitted intent. He has no prior convictions. His defence counsel, Ger Small, highlighted his remorse, depression, and ongoing counselling, and noted his placement on the sex offenders register. Judge Martin Nolan, recognising Gregan's mental health issues and the offence's lower end of the sexual assault scale, suspended a nine‑month prison term and ordered a €5,000 payment to the victim, stating that further offences would result in imprisonment. The court did not impose custodial custody.
Martin Stapleton, 30, of Ballyboden, Dublin, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to distributing and possessing child pornography. Judge Martin Nolan handed down the sentence following Stapleton's admission to charges relating to offences committed on July 17, 2014, and July 1, 2015. Prosecution evidence indicated that gardaí received information from Merseyside police that indecent images had been sent via Skype from Stapleton's address. A subsequent search seized electronic devices containing 119 images and 18 videos of child pornography. Detective Garda Donagh Mannix testified that Stapleton sent a specific video depicting a female child being orally raped to three different locations on separate occasions. While Stapleton admitted to possessing and distributing the material, he denied ever touching a child inappropriately. Defence counsel Patrick McGrath SC highlighted a four-year delay in prosecution, which the judge attributed to a lack of resources for device examination. Judge Nolan noted that had the matter been dealt with expeditiously, the sentence would have been approximately three years. Stapleton has no previous convictions.
The Court of Appeal overturned a High Court ruling that had barred a 59‑year‑old man from being tried for alleged sexual abuse of his two sisters between 1974 and 1985. The man had been charged with 17 counts of rape and sexual abuse, but claimed he was not living in the family home during the period and that he had lived with grandparents and another relative, all now deceased. He argued that the deaths of potential witnesses and his prior conviction for serious sexual offending would prejudice his right to a fair trial. The High Court had agreed, citing the lack of corroboration and the risk of a "swearing match" between the parties. The Court of Appeal found the man had not shown how the unavailability of witnesses would lead to an unfair trial and therefore allowed the appeal, granting a 14‑day stay pending a Supreme Court application.