A 27‑year‑old man who met a 16‑year‑old girl on Facebook and had sex with her nine days later was found guilty of two counts of defilement of a child in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He pleaded guilty in January and February 2013 at two Dublin locations. Judge Desmond Hogan adjourned sentencing to February next year and requested a Probation Service report. The defence lawyer, Caroline Biggs SC, argued that there was no lack of consent and that rumours of the case were exaggerated. In a Facebook exchange read in court, the offender claimed a friend had said he had raped the girl, to which she replied she knew he had not. The court heard that the victim's parents had not contacted her recently and that she had "gone off the radar". The defendant had previously sent naked photographs to the victim and had also received such images from her.
Peter Kennedy, aged 75, was convicted of 27 counts of indecent assault against 18 boys over an 18‑year period from 1968 to 1986. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to 10 years' imprisonment on one count, with all other counts considered. The appeal was dismissed by Justice George Birmingham, who noted that a consecutive sentencing on each count would not have benefited Kennedy. He highlighted that all complainants were schoolboys, except one, and that the abuse had a profound impact, with many victims experiencing long‑term difficulties. Birmingham affirmed that Kennedy's sentence was within the judge's discretion and that there had been no offences since 1986. The judgment was delivered in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 8 July 2013, and the appeal was rejected on 16 December 2014.
Ms Y, an asylum seeker who arrived in Ireland earlier this year, discovered she was pregnant after being raped in her home country. Seeking an abortion due to suicidal thoughts, she was denied and her pregnancy advanced to the point that a Caesarean section was performed against her wishes, resulting in the child being placed in State care. A Health Services Executive (HSE) inquiry was launched in August to examine the State's response and the delay under the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act. Ms Y's lawyers, led by Richard Kean SC, argue that the inquiry's conduct breached her rights to fair procedures and constitutional justice, citing her inability to participate because of ill health. They seek an order to halt the inquiry, quash a leaked draft report, and address concerns about the inquiry team's composition and lack of specialist input.
In a case heard by the Court of Appeal, a 30‑year‑old man from Dublin, whose identity is withheld to protect the victim, was found guilty of 11 counts of sexual assault and defilement of a 13‑year‑old girl between May and August 2008. He had previously been in a relationship with the girl's mother and had lived in the mother's home from age 18, performing domestic duties such as babysitting. The girl, who had been 13 at the time, had a history of intimacy with the man that began with walking and talking, progressed to kissing, and eventually to sexual intercourse when the mother was absent. The man pleaded guilty early in the proceedings and was given a fully suspended three‑year sentence by Judge Patrick McCartan in 2011. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing the sentence was unduly lenient.
A 70‑year‑old Clare man was tried in the Central Criminal Court for raping and sexually abusing a teenage boy he had previously given money to. He pleaded not guilty to three counts of anal rape and two counts of sexual assault committed at various sites in the county between 1999 and 2000. In court he admitted to touching the boy's penis once, but denied any further sexual contact. Prosecutor Dominic McGinn SC described how the accused allegedly took the boy on car drives, using a signal system of fingers and a matchbox to indicate whether he could stop. The alleged abuse is said to have occurred in the accused's car and home. After the third alleged rape the boy reportedly told the man he did not want it to continue, and the accused allegedly continued to give him money. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury.
A 70-year-old man from Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan has failed in his appeal against sentences for sexually assaulting two young girls. Peter Clarke pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault committed in May and September 2011. He received two concurrent five-year prison sentences at Monaghan Circuit Criminal Court in January 2013. Clarke's barrister argued the sentencing judge had failed to give proper weight to the guilty plea and had made inappropriate remarks during sentencing. The Court of Appeal yesterday rejected the appeal, finding the trial judge had properly considered all circumstances and mitigating factors. The court was not satisfied the sentences were unduly severe. Clarke remains in custody and will be required to engage with the probation service for seven years following his release.
In a case involving a 29‑year‑old man who pleaded guilty to sexual assault, false imprisonment and the production of a knife, the Court of Appeal reduced his sentence. The original 2012 judgment had imposed six years for the assault and false imprisonment and four years for the knife, to run concurrently. The appeal court agreed that part of the sentence should be suspended and imposed two new six‑year terms for the assault/false imprisonment and for the knife, to run concurrently, with the final 18 months suspended. The suspension was conditioned on the defendant completing a sexual offenders programme. The court also ordered 12 months of post‑release supervision. The case was heard by Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan, Mr Justice Seán Ryan and Mr Justice George Birmingham. The defendant's background, including a lack of prior convictions and a troubled personal history, was cited in the decision to suspend the final 18 months.
Louis Shiels, aged 27, pleaded guilty to rape, oral rape and false imprisonment of a woman who had become separated from friends at a hen party in Galway. The offences took place at his rented accommodation on 5 June 2011. He was sentenced on 25 February 2013 to 15 years' imprisonment, with the final three years suspended on each rape count, and a concurrent 8‑year sentence for false imprisonment. Shiels applied to review the sentence, but the Court of Appeal rejected the application. The court upheld the judge's view that the assault was "outrageous" and that mitigating factors such as Shiels' Asperger's syndrome and a psychologist's report were not sufficient to reduce his responsibility. Shiels will serve the remainder of his sentence in prison.
In 2014, a 27‑year‑old man from County Clare was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, with the final three years suspended, after pleading guilty to one count of rape, four counts of sexual assault and four counts of oral rape against his younger cousin between 2003 and 2005. The Court of Appeal reduced his original nine‑year sentence, citing that the sentencing judge had taken too severe a view of the offender's conduct. The judge noted the abuse began when the accused was 12 and the victim was six, progressed through inappropriate touching and forced oral activity, and culminated in a full vaginal rape when the victim was 12 and the accused had turned 18. The court ordered 18 months of post‑release supervision, a €1,000 bond, and a lifetime prohibition on contact with the victim. The case highlighted the serious impact on the victim's life, including school withdrawal and self‑harm attempts.
A 51-year-old man was remanded on bail at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court ahead of trial next year on charges relating to alleged sexual offences against two young girls. The man faces 50 counts in total, including 40 counts of child exploitation involving the alleged production of child abuse material, three counts of sexual assault, and seven counts of defilement of a child under 17. The offences are alleged to have occurred between 2007 and 2011 at locations in Dublin and Donegal. The man was sent forward from the District Court earlier this year. A pre-trial hearing has been scheduled for June 5, 2015, with trial proceedings set to commence on July 13, 2015. The trial is expected to last approximately two weeks. The court heard that substantial disclosure material remains under review by both defence and prosecution teams.
A 65‑year‑old Dublin man, whose identity is withheld to protect the victims, had a five‑year jail term for sexually assaulting two adult nieces reduced to three years on appeal. He was convicted of two counts of sexual assault in 2007. He pleaded guilty to one count and contested the other. Judge Patrick McCartan originally sentenced him to five years for the first count and three years for the second, to run concurrently, on 8 March 2013. In the Court of Appeal, Mr Justice George Birmingham noted the man's intent to "get locked" at a family party in September 2007 and described the assault on his niece's 4‑year‑old daughter. The more serious offence occurred in June 2007 when the man assaulted a younger adult niece who had invited him home for drinks. He had no prior convictions, had worked for a commercial semi‑state company for 35 years, and had reached a senior management position.
A 19‑year‑old Limerick teenager was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment, with the final three years suspended, for sexually abusing his seven‑year‑old step‑sister while babysitting her between February 2011 and January 2012. He pleaded guilty to two counts of oral rape and five counts of sexual assault at locations in Limerick and Clare. The judge cited the distressing details, breach of trust, gravity of the offences and the victim's age. The sentence includes a prohibition on contact with the victim, 18 months of post‑release supervision, and registration on the Sex Offenders Register. The accused had no prior convictions and was 16 at the time of the abuse. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court, with the judge and defence counsel presenting evidence and arguments regarding the offender's age and remorse. The victim's impact statement expressed discomfort and a desire never to see the offender again.
A 55‑year‑old man was found guilty of sexually assaulting and falsely imprisoning his sister‑in‑law, but was acquitted of an oral rape charge. The trial, held at the Central Criminal Court, involved six counts, including two of rape, assault causing harm, sexual assault and false imprisonment. After almost five hours of deliberation, the jury returned a not‑guilty verdict on the oral rape charge. Two hours later, the jury found the man guilty of biting the victim's breast and of forcing her into a car, thereby falsely imprisoning her. The judge thanked the jury and excused them from future service for ten years. The defendant was remanded in custody for sentencing on 23 March and placed on the Sex Offenders' Register. The unnamed 55-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Michael Jones, aged 30, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment with the final two years suspended for assaulting security guard James Bowe at Powerscourt Shopping Centre in Dublin on 26 June 2010. Jones, who was intoxicated, fractured Bowe's C7 vertebra, bit his finger and palm, and caused serious injuries that Bowe had a pre‑existing spinal condition. The judge, Desmond Hogan, noted the assault was on the lower end of the medium range of seriousness and that Jones had not intended the severe injuries. Jones had previously pleaded not guilty to assault in Dublin and was convicted by a jury in July. He had earlier convictions in Northern Ireland, including a suspended sentence for indecent assault in 2007, and a two‑year prison term for robbery in 2010. The court ordered Jones to attend alcohol treatment and remain under probation supervision for 12 months after release. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the injuries and Jones' prior record.
In a case heard in 2014, a 55‑year‑old man was found guilty of sexually assaulting his sister‑in‑law by biting her breast at her home and of false imprisonment by forcing her into a car. The jury, after deliberating a little over two hours, also convicted him of pulling her by the hair into her bedroom, punching her in the head and forcing her to perform oral sex. However, the trial judge directed a verdict of not guilty on three charges of oral rape and assault causing harm, citing insufficient evidence. The only remaining charge is an allegation that the man orally raped the woman during a car journey from her home to a town in County Limerick. The trial, now in its eleventh day, continues before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy with a jury of nine men and three women.
The Court of Appeal has determined that an eight-year prison sentence imposed on a Roscommon man convicted of raping his neighbour's daughter was unduly lenient. President of the Court of Appeal Mr Justice Seán Ryan delivered the decision on 1 December 2014, describing the offences as standing "on the most heinous level" and involving "depravity amounting to torture". The man had pleaded guilty to multiple counts of rape and sexual assault perpetrated between 2004 and 2008 against a child who was five years old when the abuse commenced. The original sentence, imposed in July 2013 by Mr Justice Paul Carney, comprised concurrent terms across fifteen rape charges and five sexual assault charges. The Director of Public Prosecutions successfully challenged the sentencing as inadequate. Mr Justice Ryan stated the sentencing judge had erred gravely in considering eight years appropriate for the rape charges. The existing sentence will remain in place pending a new sentencing hearing scheduled for 13 February 2015.
The Central Criminal Court trial of a 55‑year‑old man accused of raping his sister‑in‑law has progressed to day seven. He pleaded not guilty to five counts of rape and assault, and denied falsely imprisoning the woman. Medical evidence was presented by a doctor from the South Infirmary Hospital's sexual assault unit. The doctor described bruising on the complainant's face, chest, nipples, left breast, right buttock and right thigh, noting a large bruise on the right cheek and a five‑centimetre bruise on the right nipple, consistent with forceful blows. The examination also revealed scratches across the collarbone. The accused had been arrested a week after the alleged assault and had denied any assault, claiming the incident never occurred and accusing the woman of lying. The trial continues before Justice Patrick McCarthy with a jury of nine men and three women.
In a rape trial at the Central Criminal Court, High Court Judge Paul Carney returned from hospital to direct a jury of ten men and two women. He informed them that he would handle any questions by telephone and that they could now resume deliberations to reach a majority verdict. The jury had been sent home earlier after another judge declared Mr Carney unavailable. The accused, whose name is withheld, pleaded not guilty to 32 counts of rape and assault against a woman in County Clare between 1998 and 2004. Judge Carney stated he would be available for telephone queries and would return to receive the verdict.
Trevor Byrne, 36, was released in March after serving part of an eight‑year sentence for an attempted robbery. His final two years were suspended on conditions including a curfew and abstaining from alcohol. In April he was remanded after being found with six cans of cider, and in October he was released again. In court he admitted breaching the bond on 6 November by drinking a bottle of beer and on 18 November by breaking his curfew while watching a football match in a pub. He denied bringing 12 cans of Dutch Gold lager on 31 October. The prosecution sought to re‑activate the suspended portion of his sentence, but the judge, citing his willingness to engage with Probation Services, decided not to do so as long as he complies with the conditions. Byrne has nine prior convictions, including a 15‑year sentence for rape and a five‑year sentence for assault.
The trial of an unnamed Kerry man accused of abducting and raping his sister‑in‑law continues. He pleaded not guilty to six counts of rape and assault for an incident on 20 January 2011 in County Kerry. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy dismissed the jury of nine men and three women on Friday afternoon and instructed them to return on Monday morning for further evidence.
In a Central Criminal Court case, a man accused of abducting and raping his sister‑in‑law has pleaded not guilty to six counts of rape and assault. The alleged victim was harmed on 20 January 2011 in County Kerry, with one alleged rape said to have occurred between Kerry and Limerick after the accused blindfolded her and drove her to a remote area. On the fifth day of the trial, the jury heard that the accused was homeless at the time and had asked to sleep in a Garda station after officers informed him of the allegations. A detective had seized a car that matched the victim's description, but later found it was not the vehicle used in the incidents. The case remains before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of nine men and three women.
The Court of Appeal has refused the Director of Public Prosecutions' application to quash a suspended sentence imposed on an unnamed former jockey and horse trainer. The appellant pleaded guilty on January 30, 2013, to a sexual assault charge arising from an incident in October 2005. At the Central Criminal Court, Mr Justice Barry White adjourned sentencing overnight and delivered a five-year suspended sentence on conditions on April 23, 2013. The DPP appealed on grounds of undue leniency. President Mr Justice Seán Ryan, joined by Justices Birmingham and Sheehan, refused the appeal, stating it would not be just to impose immediate custody at this stage. However, the court found the original sentencing hearing was not sufficiently sensitive to the victim's rights. The judges criticized Mr Justice White for being too ready to infer that the victim's impact statement attempted to pressure him and for making critical remarks regarding the victim's naivety. While the Court of Appeal identified significant procedural errors and defects in the sentencing process, it declined to make a declaration of undue leniency or error in principle, simply refusing the application.
A man has been sentenced to two years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for breaching sex offender notification requirements. Ian Bissett, aged 28, was convicted following trial of failing to inform gardaí of a change of address within the required seven-day period between July and August 2011. The sentence is to run concurrently with another custodial term he is currently serving. Bissett had been released from prison in June 2011 after completing a five-year sentence for aggravated sexual assault. Court heard he was homeless and relocated to Limerick without notifying gardaí as required under the Sex Offenders Act. He told gardaí he failed to comply because he was "homeless and fed up." The defendant has an extensive criminal history spanning 22 previous convictions. His release date on the concurrent sentence is scheduled for August 2016. Ian Bissett pleaded not guilty.
A 36‑year‑old Swedish man was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for raping and sexually assaulting his ex‑girlfriend in a Dublin apartment. He pleaded not guilty to rape, sexual assault and false imprisonment on 4 July 2010. The Central Criminal Court found him guilty of four counts, acquitting him of one sexual assault charge. The judge noted the victim endured a "very nasty ordeal over a very lengthy period", suffered injuries consistent with alleged strangulation, and had suffered significant impact. The accused claimed he had given the woman love bites, but medical evidence refuted this. He had previously served time in custody and the sentence was back‑dated to 18 June 2013. The victim testified that the attacker threatened to strangle her, forced her to remove her underwear, and held her neck until she lost vision, while she attempted to contact emergency services and her new partner for help.
Two teenage men, Adam Heneghan (21) and Colin O'Sullivan (22), had their suspended prison sentences increased by the Court of Appeal after they sexually assaulted one woman and assaulted another with a bottle in Cork on 3 December 2011. Heneghan pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and sexual assault, receiving a nine‑year sentence with the final year suspended; O'Sullivan was found guilty by jury of assault causing harm and later pleaded guilty to sexual assault, receiving a ten‑year sentence with the final year suspended. The Court of Appeal, citing the seriousness of the offences and the defendants' youth, lack of prior convictions, and O'Sullivan's developmental issues, increased the suspended portions: Heneghan's suspended period was raised to four years, and O'Sullivan's to three‑and‑a‑half years. Both men will serve the remaining custodial time and have bonds of €1,000 to maintain good behaviour. The appeal was upheld on 25 November 2014.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, 39‑year‑old Mark Mulligan was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment for harassing a woman and discussing the rape of her young son. Mulligan admitted to harassing the victim between 2008 and 2012 and to possessing child pornography at his home on 7 July 2013. He pleaded not guilty to a third charge of producing child pornography between 1 and 17 March 2013. The judge, Patricia Ryan, found him guilty after a 44‑minute jury deliberation, noting the harassment spanned years and involved late‑night texts and emails. A four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence was imposed, with the last year suspended. Mulligan was ordered to stay away from the victim and her family for 30 years, to comply with probation services for 18 months after release, and to engage in rehabilitation or treatment as directed. The sentence was back‑dated to 7 July 2013.
A 19‑year‑old Limerick teenager, who was 16 at the time of the offences, pleaded guilty to two counts of oral rape and five counts of sexual assault against his seven‑year‑old step‑sister while she was under his care between February 2011 and January 2012. The abuse occurred in Limerick and Clare and was reported by the girl's parents after the teenager sent a text admitting the abuse. The girl, who was interviewed by Garda specialists, described daily abuse, including dragging her to the teenager's room and forcing her to touch his penis and put it in her mouth. The teenager admitted the acts, expressed remorse, and said he had moved out to stop the abuse. Mr Justice Paul Carney remanded him in custody until December for further assessment by the Probation Service. The case was prosecuted by Vincent Heneghan BL. The girl's statement expressed discomfort and a desire never to see the teenager again.
Mark Mulligan, aged 39, was found guilty of harassing a named woman in Dublin between 2008 and 2012 and of possessing child pornography at his home on 7 July 2013. He had pleaded not guilty to a third charge of producing child pornography between 1 and 17 March 2013. The court heard that Mulligan had developed a fantasy world due to loneliness, which led to online conversations where he discussed raping and torturing children and adults. He also sent a non‑explicit photograph of a three‑year‑old boy to an unknown Skype user, who suggested kidnapping and killing the child's parents. Mulligan claimed the conversations were "sick fantasies" and that he never intended to act on them. The judge adjourned sentencing to allow Probation Services to assess him. The case remains at the trial stage, with no sentencing yet announced.
A 38‑year‑old former jockey received a wholly suspended five‑year prison sentence for sexually assaulting his female housemate in October 2005. He pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court. The Court of Appeal reserved judgment on an application by the Director of Public Prosecutions, who argued the sentence was unduly lenient. The appeal hearing included the President, Mr Justice Seán Ryan, and Justices George Birmingham and Garrett Sheehan, who questioned the trial judge's remarks that the victim might have been "extremely naïve." Paul Greene SC for the DPP highlighted conflicting accounts, noting both parties were intoxicated, which could aggravate the offence. Isobel Kennedy SC for the accused argued the trial judge had carefully considered the case, including the accused's prior record and the seven‑year delay between the offence and trial. The Court of Appeal will decide on the sentence's severity no earlier than 22 November 2014.
In a 2014 appeal, a man who had been sentenced in 2012 to two years' imprisonment for five counts of sexual assault on three young children while babysitting them had the balance of his sentence suspended. The offences, committed in 1992 and 1993 when the victims were aged between four and ten, were pleaded guilty by the unnamed defendant. He had served 17 months in custody before being released on bail and had only a few weeks remaining on his sentence. The Court of Appeal, hearing the case on 13 November 2014, noted mitigating factors including the defendant's age at the time of the offences, his subsequent family life, clean work record, and the fact that he had been a victim of sexual abuse himself. The court, led by Mr Justice George Birmingham, suspended the remaining term and released him on a €100 bond, conditional on keeping the peace for one year.
In a 2014 appeal, the Director of Public Prosecutions failed to overturn a sentence imposed on Peter Rynne, a 56‑year‑old convicted of indecent assault on his step‑daughter between 1985 and 1990. Rynne was found guilty on four counts, with the victim aged between eight and thirteen. The judge, Carmel Stewart, sentenced him to two years' imprisonment, suspending the final 18 months. The DPP argued the sentence was unduly lenient, citing the victim's prolonged suffering and the impact on her family relationships. The Court of Appeal, hearing the case on its second day, upheld the judge's decision, concluding the suspension was not excessive given the circumstances. The appeal was dismissed, and the victim, who had waived anonymity, left the courtroom in tears.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, a 31‑year‑old Wicklow man was sentenced to one year in prison for sexually abusing two of his daughter's friends while they were playing in his house. The offences were discovered after a girl filed a complaint following a Stay Safe class at her school. The man pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual abuse that occurred sometime in 2010. Judge Mary Ellen Ring imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year term but suspended the final 18 months, requiring the defendant to remain under Probation Services supervision for 18 months after release. The judge highlighted the importance of the Stay Safe programme, noting it had previously enabled children to report abuse. The girls, aged seven and nine at the time, were playing with the defendant's daughter in his bedroom when the abuse began. The defendant admitted playing with them but claimed it was innocent.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 34‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault against his 20‑year‑old half‑sister, who had asked him to give her a lift home from a house party. The man, who had no prior convictions, was found to have sexually assaulted her twice while she pretended to be asleep, first on the way to his home and again on the return journey. He offered €5,000 to the victim, which the court said did not influence the sentencing. Judge Martin Nolan, after noting the absence of gratuitous violence and the man's one‑off nature, imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence and suspended it in full. The court also considered the victim's refusal to accept the money and the possibility of a charitable nomination for her support.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Mary Ellen Ring sentenced a 39‑year‑old man to three and a half years' imprisonment for sexually assaulting his 12‑year‑old daughter and her 13‑year‑old school friend between January and December 2011. The defendant voluntarily approached Gardaí in January 2012, admitting the assaults, and pleaded guilty to five counts of sexual assault out of a total of 26. Judge Ring criticised the Director of Public Prosecutions for a 15‑month delay in prosecuting the case, arguing that the system must prioritise young victims. She urged the prosecuting barrister to raise the issue with the DPP. Two teenage victims, now 16, read victim impact statements describing severe emotional and educational harm, including suicidal thoughts, depression, self‑harm, and bullying. The defendant, who had no prior convictions, was noted to have been sexually abused as a child and to have suffered depression and unemployment.
In a 2014 case, a 32‑year‑old man who had previously been declared a sex offender pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a young woman at a Dublin home in early 2013. The victim, who had gone to bed after a party, was approached by the accused, who admitted he had entered the bedroom to get a blanket, then kissed and touched her, and digitally penetrated her. He claimed he hoped she would think he was her partner. The court heard he had five prior convictions, including drug dealing. The victim rejected a €2,000 compensation offer from the accused and requested the money be donated to the Rape Crisis Centre. Judge Catherine Murphy adjourned sentencing to 10 December, ordered a probation report, and directed the accused's solicitor to pay the charity. The accused expressed remorse and said he would live with his actions for the rest of his life. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
The trial date for Dr Michael Shine, an 82‑year‑old retired consultant surgeon, will not be set until after a High Court judicial review. He faces 25 counts of indecent assault against 22 alleged victims, with the earliest incidents dating to 1964 and the latest to 1990, allegedly occurring at Our Lady's Hospital in Drogheda and a clinic in County Louth. Judge Mary Ellen Ring adjourned the matter again, noting that Shine's legal team are still awaiting the High Court's judgment and that no indication exists as to when it will be delivered. She scheduled a mention for January 14, giving the State and defence the liberty to re‑enter the case should the judgment return before that date.
A 21‑year‑old Dublin man, who was himself raped as a teenager, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of sexually assaulting his five‑year‑old niece between April and November 2011. He admitted fondling her when she entered his bed at night because she feared the dark and ghosts. The man, who was 13 when he was raped by an older man and forced to engage in sexual acts with his brother while in care, had previously been jailed for life for a separate case of "exceptional depravity"; that sentence was later reduced by the Court of Criminal Appeal. Judge Mary Ellen Ring adjourned the case to June next year, ordering the accused to continue counselling and stay away from the victim. He expressed remorse, wrote a letter to the victim, and claimed he did not know why he had acted.
Patrick O'Brien, aged 74, pleaded guilty to 16 rape and indecent assault charges committed between 1973 and 1982 at Mackintosh Park, Pottery Road, Dun Laoghaire. The trial judge, Mr Justice Paul Carney, described the case as one of the worst abuse cases and, considering O'Brien's health, sentenced him to 12 years in prison, suspending the final nine years and granting bail pending appeal. The DPP has appealed, arguing the sentence was unduly lenient. The State's application will be heard by the new Court of Appeal on 17 December, while O'Brien remains in prison serving the unsuspended portion of his sentence.
A 21‑year‑old man, who was 19 when the offences occurred, posed as a teenage girl on Facebook to sexually exploit boys aged 13 to 14. He convinced them to send sexually explicit pictures and to masturbate via an online video link. He also engaged in a sexual act with a child between 6 and 9 June 2009 and 30 September 2009, and pleaded guilty to three charges of exploitation of a child and two counts of defilement of a child in Dublin between April and October 2012. He has no prior convictions and is said to be remorseful. Judge Mary Ellen Ring adjourned the case to December to allow a probation services report to be completed, and remanded him in continuing custody until that date. The man's counsel, Padraig Dwyer SC, believes the report will be positive. The judge will decide on publishing the man's identity after finalising the sentence.
A 36‑year‑old man from Cork was sentenced to five years in prison for sexually assaulting his younger sister between 1991 and 1997. The Central Criminal Court, sitting in Cork, found him guilty of 23 counts of sexual assault after a trial in July. The abuse began when the accused was 14 and his sister 10, continuing until he was 20 and she was 16. Mr Justice Paul Carney described the offences as grave, noted the victim's impact, the multiplicity of acts and the victim's age, and imposed a five‑year term. He suspended the final year, citing the man's lack of prior convictions, good employment history and youth, and ordered him to stay away from the victim permanently, except with her consent. The judge also imposed 18 months of post‑release supervision. The accused, who has learning difficulties, has been in custody since conviction.
A 54‑year‑old Englishman, who has lived in Ireland since 2008, was extradited to the UK to face four historical child sex‑abuse charges, including three indecent assaults and one rape, alleged to have occurred between 1976 and 1984. He was arrested in Ireland under a European Arrest Warrant last month. His lawyers applied to the High Court to halt extradition, arguing prosecutorial delay and his rights to life and family life, noting that his only family contact was in Ireland. The court considered an affidavit from a psychiatrist warning of increased risk of self‑harm if surrendered, and an affidavit from the defendant describing a troubled childhood, alleged abuse, and alcohol problems. Judge John Edwards rejected the delay argument, found no violation of rights, and ordered extradition, remanding the defendant at Cloverhill Prison pending transfer to the UK. The decision was based on the seriousness of the offences and the expectation that UK authorities would provide appropriate protection.
A 51-year-old man charged with 50 counts of sexual offences against two young girls appeared at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following his committal from the District Court. The allegations relate to incidents alleged to have occurred between 2007 and 2011 at locations in Dublin and Donegal. The charges comprise 40 counts of child exploitation, three counts of sexual assault, and seven counts of defilement of a child under 17 years of age. The prosecution indicated that additional documentation from the Director of Public Prosecutions was still being gathered and would require a further four to six weeks to obtain. The defence indicated they had received substantial disclosure material the previous month. Judge Mary Ellen Ring adjourned the matter to 9 December 2014, when the defendant is expected to indicate his plea.
Noel Maher, aged 42, was sentenced to 14 years in prison for raping and sexually assaulting his step‑daughter Amy Kenna over an eight‑year period. The abuse began when Kenna was ten and escalated to rape when she was thirteen, continuing until 2009. A seven‑day trial in July found Maher guilty of three counts of sexual assault between 2001 and 2007 and 34 counts of rape between 2005 and 2009, all at various locations in County Laois. The judge, Justice Garrett Sheehan, noted the victim's suffering and praised her courage, imposing a 14‑year sentence with the last two years suspended on the condition that Maher participate in a sex‑offender programme while incarcerated. The case highlighted the persistent, threatening nature of the abuse and the victim's ongoing recovery efforts.
A 68‑year‑old man, Pat O'Malley, was convicted of sexual assault and sentenced to five years' imprisonment. He has appealed on the basis that the trial judge failed to protect his right to silence. The appeal argues that the prosecution's key witness and first complainant made "unwarranted and inappropriate comments" to jurors during the trial. Mr O'Malley's counsel, Patrick McGrath SC, contended that the witness's statements about the victim running to the accused were incorrect and that the judge should have discharged the jury immediately. The DPP's counsel, Paul Murray BL, countered that the witness's testimony was detailed and that the comments were specific to a particular question. The Court of Criminal Appeal refused bail pending the appeal, noting the importance of the accused's right to silence but finding the argument insufficient. The court also recommended an early hearing date due to Mr O'Malley's age and medical difficulties.
Paul O'Shea, aged 26, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to five years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, for threatening to kill former partner Louise Jackson and her colleague Stephen Preston on 2 January 2013 at Owensilla, Ballymun. He was also ordered to stay away from both victims for 20 years. O'Shea pleaded guilty and had 48 prior convictions, including indecent telephone messages, assault, robbery, theft and burglary. He was addicted to drugs at the time of the offences. The sentence runs consecutively to a two‑and‑a‑half‑year term he is currently serving for sexually assaulting a female student nurse. O'Shea had been in a relationship with Jackson for six years and they have a child. Jackson had broken up with him after he was charged with sexual assault. She had tried to leave his house but he threatened to "punch the head off her" and later to "slit her throat" with a knife.
Michael Jones, a 30‑year‑old Belfast sex offender, was sentenced in Dublin for assaulting a security guard, James Bowe, at the Powerscourt Shopping Centre on 26 June 2010. Jones, who was intoxicated, entered the closed centre through an open goods delivery entrance, confronted Bowe, and pulled him to the ground. He struck Bowe's head, kicked and pummelled him, bit Bowe's index finger bone and palm, causing a fractured neck bone and bleeding. A jury convicted Jones in July 2010. Judge Desmond Hogan heard the case and remanded Jones in custody for sentencing next month. Garda Shane Moriarty noted Jones's prior 2007 conviction for indecent assault, a two‑and‑a‑half‑year prison term, and a suspended sentence that was breached in 2010 when he left Northern Ireland for Kildare. Jones has further convictions for theft, assault and traffic offences, and was recently sentenced to two years in prison for a robbery in June 2010. Michael Jones pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, Mark Mulligan, 39, was found guilty of producing child pornography after a jury heard that he had engaged in online conversations with an unknown person, using the handle rodub82, in which he discussed raping, torturing and kidnapping children. Mulligan claimed the exchanges were "fantasy" and that he had never intended to act on them. He sent a non‑explicit photograph of a three‑year‑old boy and made statements about wanting to rape the boy's father, kill the boy's parents and kill the boy himself. The jury, after a one‑day trial, returned a unanimous verdict of guilty in 44 minutes. Judge Patricia Ryan remanded Mulligan in custody for sentencing in November. The case was presented as a private conversation between two men hiding behind assumed identities, but the court found the content amounted to child pornography. The article does not provide any further details about sentencing or subsequent proceedings. Mark Mulligan pleaded not guilty.
In a High Court case, the Health Services Executive (HSE) sought an order to force-feed a woman who had expressed a desire to die due to childhood sexual abuse. The HSE, represented by Shane Costellloe SC, argued that the woman, who had previously agreed to take fluids and nourishment for two weeks, was now refusing food. The court, after hearing medical professionals, granted an order allowing doctors to feed her via a nasogastric tube without her consent. The woman, treated at a psychiatric facility for PTSD and other mental health conditions, had been admitted following self‑harm incidents and had previously been fed through a nasogastric tube until late September. The judge noted that the woman's mental capacity to refuse food was disputed, with some clinicians believing she lacked capacity and others disagreeing. The order permits medical practitioners to take necessary steps to provide nourishment to prevent imminent death.
In a High Court case, a woman who had previously requested to be allowed to die has agreed to receive food and fluids for the next two weeks. The Health Services Executive (HSE) sought an order to force-feed her, as she had not eaten or taken fluids for weeks and was at risk of imminent death. The HSE's application was initially opposed by the woman, who had been treated for PTSD and other mental health conditions stemming from childhood sexual abuse. High Court President Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns granted a temporary order allowing the HSE to administer fluids only, and later accepted the woman's decision to accept nourishment for two weeks. The court will consider her mental capacity in any future orders, but no restraining order was granted. The case highlights the legal complexities surrounding a patient's right to refuse treatment and the court's role in determining capacity.
In October 2014, Adrian Mooney, a 36‑year‑old from Offaly, was jailed for nine years after pleading guilty to 11 rape charges in 2008. He forced a young woman to have sex with him up to three times a week, threatening her with IRA punishment. His sentence included registration as a sex offender and five years of post‑release supervision. Mooney has now filed a High Court application seeking early release under the 2007 Prison Rules, claiming entitlement to a one‑third remission because he has served more than 66% of his sentence and has shown good behaviour, participated in prison programmes, and taken education courses. The Minister for Justice has not yet responded. Mr Justice Michael Peart granted Mooney permission to bring judicial review proceedings to compel the Minister to decide on the remission. The case is returnable later in the month. Similar applications by other prisoners, including former Real IRA member Michael McKevitt, are also pending.