A woman who was tortured and falsely imprisoned in a Dublin flat over a false accusation about missing drugs has told a court she will never forgive the 'sick human beings' for what they did to her. During a three-hour period in September 2024, the woman was subjected to unimaginable trauma, including being beaten with metal poles, burned with a makeshift blow torch, cut with a knife, and threatened with rape. The assault ended when gardaí entered the flat with a search warrant. Mark Keogh (33), Mark McMahon (55), Braxton Rice (21), Sean Conroy (21), and Kian Walshe (22) all pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and assault causing harm to the woman at Henrietta House on September 26, 2024. Each of the men has a number of previous convictions. The case was adjourned by Judge Codd to next Wednesday, when defence counsel will give their pleas of mitigation. The woman, who suffered multiple injuries including a broken eye socket, broken cheekbone, and burns, described the men as 'animals' and said she was 'completely helpless' and outnumbered by the eight men present. The court heard that the men had taken running jumps at her during the assault and threatened to make her drink ammonia and rape her teenage daughter. The woman's victim impact statement highlighted the lasting psychological effects of the incident, including flashbacks and constant headaches. The maximum sentences for false imprisonment and assault causing harm are life and 10 years respectively.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 24 July 2025, Judge Mary Ellen Ring sentenced tattoo artist Henrique Pereira, 34, to a headline term of three years and six months for sexual assault committed on 19 October 2016. The judge noted that Pereira had no prior convictions and was a small‑business owner with family responsibilities, and therefore imposed a suspended sentence of two and a half years, with full suspension for that period. He was also placed under Probation Services supervision for 18 months and ordered to comply with all probation officer directions. The victim, who suffered vivid flashbacks and described the assault as making her feel unsafe, was told the judge hoped the outcome would bring her closure. Pereira apologized, acknowledged the impact of his actions, and expressed willingness to undertake any required courses. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court, with the judge emphasising that a woman is entitled to change her mind. Henrique Pereira was found guilty.
Ronaldo Otto, a 63‑year‑old who is transitioning to female and identifies as Samantha Otto, was sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to an additional six months in custody for breaching the terms of a three‑year suspended sentence. The suspended sentence originally applied to an assault in which Otto threw a cup of boiling water over a casino customer's face in 2019. Otto had previously been convicted of a sexual assault on an 18‑year‑old male student in October 2022, while the suspended portion of the casino assault sentence was still active. A jury found Otto guilty of the sexual assault in May. Judge Pauline Codd reactivated six months of the suspended sentence, suspended the remaining two and a half years, and directed that the new term run consecutively with the three‑year sentence for the sexual assault.
An appeal has been launched by two men, Dion Genockey (26) and Daryl Rooney (27), who were convicted of the gang rape of a vulnerable teenager who had recently left State care. The appeal, heard at the Court of Appeal, argues that issues of consent were relevant during their trial. Counsel for Genockey argued that the trial judge should have advised the jury that the appellant may have had reasons for not mentioning to gardaí that he believed the victim had given her consent. Counsel for Rooney argued that the appellant was not aware that the woman had not given her consent. Genockey, of Clarion Quay Apartments, and Rooney, of Railway Street, Dublin City Centre, were convicted of raping the woman at Bull Island, Dollymount, Dublin, on January 5, 2016, following a second trial at the Central Criminal Court in March 2022. The jury in the first trial, held in 2020, was unable to reach a verdict. Genockey was sentenced to nine years by Mr Justice David Keane while Rooney was sentenced to ten years. A third accused, Troy Ryan of Lower Gardiner Street, Dublin City Centre, was also convicted and sentenced to nine and a half years. The appeal is ongoing, with the court reserving judgment.
Murilo Dos Santos, 36, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material between November 2020 and January 2021. Gardaí seized his phone during a separate investigation, finding 66 videos that contravened the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act. Dos Santos shared these videos with six others via a sharing app and WhatsApp, including a 5‑minute clip of a child aged 6‑12 months strapped down, and other footage of children aged 8‑12 and 10‑14 years in sexual activity. He also sent a MEGA folder link and a photograph of himself, claiming he was acting as a vigilante. Judge Orla Crowe revoked his bail and remanded him in custody until 1 December 2025 pending sentencing. No other participants were prosecuted. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
James O'Reilly, aged 63, was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury of oral rape, five counts of sexual assault and three counts of sexual exploitation of his daughter Bridget, who was between six and ten years old when the abuse occurred. The offences took place at the family home in Waterford between 2010 and 2014. O'Reilly was found guilty on all nine charges in the fourth trial after earlier trials were aborted or inconclusive. He received a headline sentence of 13 years, with the final year suspended for 12 months on strict conditions, including probation supervision after release. The judge described the conduct as an egregious breach of trust, noting violence, threats and a lack of remorse. O'Reilly's son Thomas gave a character reference, and the daughter waived anonymity to name her father. No prior sexual convictions were recorded, though he had three unrelated convictions.
Darren Dowling, 48, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court following a July 2024 trial in which he was found guilty of eight counts of oral rape and three counts of indecent assault. The offences, which occurred at a Clondalkin address between 1990 and 1993, were committed against his cousin, Alan Murphy, who was aged between three and six at the time. Dowling, who was a juvenile during the offending period, had previously served a nine-month sentence in Jersey for a separate offence involving an undercover officer. Justice Paul Burns imposed concurrent sentences of five years and three years, reducing headline sentences of 13 years and eight years respectively due to Dowling's age at the time of the crimes. The final 12 months of the five-year term were suspended on strict conditions, requiring Dowling to engage with Probation Supervision upon release. The court noted the severe impact on the victim, who suffered behavioural problems and substance abuse issues as a teenager. Although the sentencing was completed, the matter was adjourned for mention to allow for the hearing of a Supreme Court case regarding the naming of juvenile accused persons who reach adulthood. Consequently, the report could not be published until now. Dowling waived his anonymity, and the victim has also waived his anonymity to have Dowling named.
A 37‑year‑old man was sentenced to seven years in prison at the Central Criminal Court for raping a woman while she slept and then raping her again after she escaped the first assault. He pleaded guilty to two rape charges on 29 September 2019. The victim, whose identity is protected, described feeling like a "rag doll" during the attacks and suffering anxiety, PTSD, panic attacks and a loss of time with her children. She said she now locks herself in her bedroom and feels like a prisoner. The judge, Mr Justice Paul Burns, imposed an eight‑year sentence with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions for three years, directed the defendant to be supervised by the Probation Service for three years post‑release, and gave credit for time served. The court praised the victim's courage and hoped she would continue to recover with support from family and friends.
A man convicted of rape at the Central Criminal Court has appealed his conviction before the Court of Appeal on grounds relating to the trial judge's handling of prosecution submissions and expert evidence. Thomas Wymbs, aged 68, was found guilty in February 2024 of raping a guest at Atlantic Haven B&B near Mount Temple, County Sligo, in February 2020. He received a sentence of seven and a half years, with the final eighteen months suspended, in July 2024. His counsel argued that the trial judge erred in declining to address the jury on comments made during prosecution closing speeches and on evidence concerning alcohol consumption and its effects. The Director of Public Prosecutions' counsel disputed both contentions, stating the judge's refusal was appropriate given the context of the evidence and submissions. Mr Justice John Edwards reserved judgment, to be delivered at a later date.
A 41‑year‑old man who sexually abused his eight‑year‑old cousin while babysitting her in the summer of 1999 has not had his one‑year jail term reduced on appeal. He pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault at an address in Co Kildare. The court noted that at the time of the offence he was 15 and the victim was eight. Four incidents occurred in the family home where he was staying. The victim's impact statement said the abuse changed her life, leaving her with shame and guilt, and that she was celebrated by others who knew of the abuse. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to three years, with the final two years suspended on strict conditions. The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, affirming the sentence as proportionate and noting the aggravating factors of repeated offending, breach of trust, and the victim's secondary traumatisation.
Marcus Duggan, aged 53, appealed his conviction for two indecent assaults and one rape committed between 1983 and 1991 against his younger sister, Yvonne Ratcliffe, aged 52. He argued that evidence of alleged prior sexual misconduct, including pornographic videos viewed in the family home and claims that he had sex with his sister at about eight or nine, should not have been admitted to the jury. His counsel contended that such evidence was prejudicial and irrelevant, and that a hearsay statement from Ratcliffe's father that "Marcus was sorry for what he did" was improperly admitted. The Director of Public Prosecutions defended the admissibility of the background evidence and the father's statement, stating it was not an admission of guilt. The appeal was lodged at the Court of Appeal, with the court reserving judgment. The original trial resulted in a five‑year sentence, with the final year suspended on strict conditions. The case remains at the appeal stage. Marcus Duggan pleaded not guilty.
A 39‑year‑old man who raped his pregnant partner in their bed six years ago was still employed by a local authority until he was taken into custody earlier this month. The partner, who was five months pregnant, recorded the assault and could be heard saying she was not consenting. She testified at the trial in Tullamore, where the man pleaded guilty to one count of rape on 13 October 2019. He was sentenced to eight years in prison, with the final year suspended, and is now in custody. The judge described the recording as "distressing" and praised the victim's courage. The man has one prior drug‑related conviction and was granted visitation rights to his child, which the victim says has caused her ongoing anxiety and nightmares. The case was delayed twice before the hearing. The man's defence cited heavy alcohol consumption and lack of memory of the incident.
Richard Brennan, 64, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court after pleading guilty to 24 counts of sexual abuse against his three sisters. He admitted to 18 counts of indecent assault and six counts of rape. The charges included four indecent assaults and four rapes against Paula Faye (aged 13-17) between 1978 and 1981; 13 indecent assaults and two rapes against Catherine Wrightstone (aged 9-14) between 1980 and 1984; and indecent assaults against Yvonne Crist (aged 20) between 1979 and 1980. Mr Justice David Keane imposed a global sentence of nine years, backdated to March 18. The judge suspended the final 12 months of the term on condition that Brennan engages with the Probation Service for one year upon release. No post-release supervision order was imposed. Earlier this month, his brother Bernard Brennan, 67, was jailed for four and a half years after admitting to 11 counts of indecent assault against Yvonne Crist and Paula Faye between 1972 and 1975. Bernard's global sentence of nine years was also backdated to March 18. Both men have no previous convictions.
A 38‑year‑old man was sentenced to two‑and‑a‑half years in prison, with the final six months suspended, for defiling his employer's 15‑year‑old daughter in Co. Westmeath in October 2017. He was convicted of one count of defilement; he was acquitted of alleged rape and a separate count of sexual assault against the girl's sister. The court heard that he had made repeated phone calls and text exchanges with the girl, and that he entered her home through a side window and had sex with her in her bedroom before leaving. The judge noted the significant age difference, the groom‑ing and abuse of a position of trust, and the profound impact on the girl's mental and physical health. The sentence was back‑dated to the man's entry into custody in January 2018. The man has prior convictions for assault and two traffic offences.
A 78‑year‑old man was sentenced to five and a half years' imprisonment for sexually abusing two siblings between 1976 and 1980. He pleaded guilty to an attempted rape of a girl aged about five or six and to an indecent assault of a boy aged between six and eleven. The abuse took place in a shed and on a metal drum, with the boy's clothing bit down onto his shoulder. The court heard that there were three or four further incidents. The defendant had a prior conviction for assaulting a five‑year‑old grand‑niece, for which he received a two‑year fully suspended sentence. He expressed remorse, acknowledged his wrongdoing, and was found to have limited intellectual ability, chronic medical conditions, diabetes and a formal diagnosis of dementia. The judge, taking these mitigating factors into account, set a headline sentence of seven years, reduced to five and a half years.
In a 2025 Court of Appeal ruling, Mr Justice Brian O'Moore granted a 54‑year‑old woman an appeal against her conviction for sexually assaulting her three disabled sons and for child neglect. The judge said the only evidence against her were inculpatory statements she made to a psychologist and polygrapher retained by Tusla under extreme power imbalance. He noted that the Director of Public Prosecutions did not oppose the appeal and a retrial would not be sought. The woman had pleaded not guilty but was convicted by a jury in a retrial in July 2024 of four counts of sexual assault between 2005 and 2015 and one count of child neglect between 2008 and 2015. She was sentenced to eight years, with the final two years suspended. Mr Justice O'Moore ruled that the admissions should have been excluded, and that she should have been acquitted of all charges.
A Donegal man has lost his appeal against conviction for raping and sexually assaulting his daughter during her childhood. The Court of Appeal dismissed the challenge on 14 July, with Mr Justice Michael MacGrath ruling that evidence of the victim's disclosure to her aunt was properly admissible at trial. The appellant, Michael Carter (57) of Kinnego, Ballymagan, Buncrana, was convicted in June 2023 of one count of rape and 25 sample counts of sexual assault occurring between 2010 and 2014, when his daughter was aged nine to twelve. He was sentenced to ten and a half years imprisonment. The defence had contested the admissibility of the aunt's evidence, arguing the complaint was elicited through questioning rather than offered voluntarily. The court found the disclosure was consistent with the victim's trial testimony and properly admitted, identifying no error warranting reversal of the conviction.
The Central Criminal Court jury convicted an unnamed woman in her 50s of one count of rape, specifically facilitating the rape of her daughter by her brother between 2003 and 2004, and two counts of sexual assault at a family holiday home. Her brother, in his 40s, was convicted of one count of raping the girl between 2003 and 2004. Both defendants had pleaded not guilty to a total of 21 charges. The jury acquitted the woman of two further sexual assault counts and was unable to reach a verdict on two others. Regarding the brother, the jury failed to reach a verdict on a further rape count and an oral rape charge. A third accused, a man in his 50s, was unable to be convicted or acquitted on one count of oral rape alleged between 2008 and 2009. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon remanded the woman and her brother in custody. The matter was adjourned, with a sentence date set for next October. The third accused was remanded on continuing bail to the same date for the prosecution to seek instructions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.
A man has been convicted of defiling a child under 17 at his home in County Mayo six years ago. The accused, whose identity is protected to safeguard the complainant, pleaded not guilty to the charge. He was acquitted of a separate count of sexual assault arising from an incident at a staff party. Following a week-long trial at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court, an all-male jury returned a 10–2 majority guilty verdict after deliberating for five and a half hours. The complainant was 16 years old at the time; the accused was 28. Judge Eoin Garavan remanded the accused on bail pending sentencing on 6 November, to allow time for a psychological report. The accused was ordered to sign on weekly at his local garda station. The judge commended the complainant's courage but reserved formal comments for the sentencing hearing.
In a trial where a mother and her uncle are accused of raping the mother's daughter, the jury paused its deliberations for the weekend. The defendants, all pleading not guilty, face charges of rape and sexual assault. The mother, in her 50s, is charged with 13 counts of sexual assault and one count of rape, while the uncle, in his 40s, faces five counts of rape and one of oral rape. A third man, also in his 50s, is charged with one count of oral rape. The jury will resume on Monday.
A 42‑year‑old man was sentenced to 11 years and six months in prison, with the final six months suspended for one year on strict conditions, after being convicted of two counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault against his goddaughter, who was aged six to nine when the offences occurred between 2009 and 2012 in County Clare. The man, who was in his late twenties at the time, was also married to the victim's aunt and had acted as her godfather. He maintains his innocence. The victim, whose identity is protected, gave a victim impact statement describing the abuse as having stolen her childhood, left her with fear, pain, depression and anxiety, and said she may "never be able to be normal." The judge noted the seriousness of the offences, the victim's age and the multiple incidents, and reduced a headline sentence of 13 years to 11½ years after considering mitigating factors and testimonials about the.
A man now aged 22 pleaded guilty at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court to possessing child sexual abuse material discovered on his mother's laptop in County Mayo on 6 June 2018. He was 15 when gardaí found the illegal content after he reported to them that his device had been hacked as part of a sextortion attempt. The accused had been engaging in online exchanges with a hacker who subsequently infected the laptop with malware to extort money. Upon opening a video link, the screen displayed warnings and became inaccessible. He informed his mother and reported the matter to gardaí, leading to the laptop's examination by the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau, which recovered the material from the recycle bin. Judge Eoin Garavan imposed a two-month sentence, suspended on completion of 100 hours community service within six months, citing the accused's age at the time of the offence, social isolation, and low reoffending risk. The case will be finalised on 7 November 2025. The accused was removed from the Sex Offenders' List.
A 53‑year‑old man was sentenced to eight and a half years' imprisonment for subjecting five children in his care to repeated physical and sexual abuse, causing them irreparable psychological damage. He was in a relationship with the children's mother and the biological father of the younger two. The court heard he threatened a child's dog and used violence and intimidation to control the children. He pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual assault of one boy (2004‑2011, ages 11‑18), three counts of sexual assault of a second boy (2006‑2013, ages 12‑19), two counts of child cruelty of a third boy (2013‑2015, ages 12‑14), and sexual assault of two girls (2015, ages 14 and 9). These pleas were representative of 107 charges. Ms Justice Caroline Biggs imposed consecutive sentences totalling 11 years, suspended the final two and a half years on strict conditions, and noted the man's remorse and risk assessment.
A 33-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to sexual assault and defilement of a child following an incident in County Mayo in July 2020. The trial, heard this week at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court, was told the complainant was 16 years old at the time of the alleged offences, while the accused was 28. The defence argued the accused believed the complainant was over 18, citing her appearance, behaviour, and statements she made during a staff party. However, the court heard evidence from a witness who said she informed the accused of the complainant's actual age that night. The complainant testified the accused pressured her for sexual contact after the party. Both prosecution and defence have delivered closing submissions. Judge Eoin Garavan is to sum up to the jury today or tomorrow, after which the twelve jurors will consider their verdict.
A jury has begun deliberating in a trial involving a mother, her uncle, and a third man, all of whom deny the allegations. The mother, in her 50s, faces 13 counts of sexual assault and one count of rape for facilitating her daughter's rape by the uncle. The uncle, in his 40s, is charged with five counts of rape and one of oral rape. The third man, also in his 50s, faces one count of oral rape. All defendants plead not guilty. The jury paused deliberations for the day after a brief session.
The High Court ordered the extradition of former priest Oliver O'Grady, aged 80, to Portugal to serve a one‑year prison sentence for possession of more than 9,000 images and 29 videos of child sexual abuse. O'Grady was arrested on 21 January 2025 under a European Arrest Warrant issued by a Faro court, which had convicted him in absentia on 7 May 2024 for possession of "pornography of minors." He contested the extradition, claiming his fair‑trial rights were not protected, that he could not contact a lawyer, and that he faced a risk of inhuman or degrading treatment in Portuguese prisons. The judge found his claims to be disingenuous and self‑serving, noting that O'Grady had tried to control proceedings and had failed to attend his trial. The judge also rejected concerns about prison conditions, stating assurances from Portuguese authorities that no such risk existed.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a young woman testified that she was raped and sexually assaulted by her mother, her uncle and a third man. The prosecution, represented by Anne‑Marie Lawlor SC, argued that the complainant's statements were consistent and unembellished, urging the jury to consider her reliability. The defence counsel for each defendant highlighted the passage of time, the lack of corroborating evidence, and questioned the complainant's memory of events that occurred when she was very young. The mother, aged in her 50s, pleaded not guilty to 13 counts of sexual assault and one count of rape, while the uncle, in his 40s, pleaded not guilty to five counts of rape and one of oral rape. The third defendant, also in his 50s, pleaded not guilty to one count of oral rape. The case remains before Justice Eileen Creedon and the jury.
Michael Kearns, 58, was found guilty of possessing 207 images and 164 videos of child sexual abuse, depicting boys and girls aged five to fifteen, on his home computer. Gardaí searched his residence in April 2019 after an international organisation tipped off the Online Child Exploitation Unit. Kearns pleaded guilty to child pornography offences that occurred between April 2017 and April 2019. Judge Pauline Codd, noting the material's severity and the "significant level of depravity," imposed a six‑month jail term, suspending the final 18 months of a two‑year sentence. She highlighted Kearns' cooperation, guilty plea, and personal trauma, including cancer diagnoses, as mitigating factors. The judge emphasised the need to protect children and stated she had to "send a message out" by sentencing him to custodial time. The case concluded with Kearns expressing remorse and shame for his actions.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a mother in her 50s pleaded not guilty to 13 counts of sexual assault and one count of rape, claiming she never sexually abused her three‑year‑old daughter or facilitated her uncle's rape. She said she felt "slightly sick" when told she had abused the child before age four and denied any other alleged assaults, including a claim that she bit her daughter. The mother also denied being present when her daughter was raped by her uncle and denied any sexual activity with him. The uncle, in his 40s, pleaded not guilty to five rape counts and one oral rape count, denying all allegations and stating he did not know why his niece would accuse him. A third defendant, aged in his 50s, pleaded not guilty to one oral rape count and denied any contact with the child. The trial continues.
A man aged 33 has pleaded not guilty to charges of sexually assaulting a teenage girl at a staff party in County Mayo in July 2020. The trial is taking place at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Eoin Garavan and an all-male jury. The complainant, now aged 21, gave evidence that she was 16 at the time and had consumed several bottles of cider during the event. She alleged the accused, whom she had not previously met, engaged in sexual contact with her in a bathroom and later in an alleyway without her consent. The woman told the court she objected to the contact and pushed the man away. The defendant faces two counts: sexual assault at the party premises on 14 to 15 July 2020, and defilement of a child under 17 at a separate address on 15 July 2020. He denies both charges. The trial is expected to continue for several days.
The Court of Appeal has decided to refer the matter to the Director of Public Prosecutions after Conor McGregor withdrew a motion to introduce alleged new evidence in his appeal against a civil jury's finding that he raped Nikita Hand. The withdrawal came after McGregor's lawyers cited difficulties with the admissibility of a report from a former Northern Ireland pathologist. Ms Hand's counsel argued that the motion was intended to undermine her client's reputation and that the new evidence was "all lies." The court will notify the parties of the documentation it intends to provide to the DPP. The decision comes while the court is also reserving judgment on McGregor's substantive appeal and a costs appeal involving James Lawrence, who was found not liable for assaulting Hand. The case remains at the appeal stage, with no verdict or sentencing yet announced.
The trial at the Central Criminal Court involves a woman who denies that she imagined being raped by her uncle but admits she has struggled with memories and misidentified her age at some alleged incidents. She claims she was raped by her uncle on several occasions, including oral rape, and also alleges sexual assault by her mother and a family friend. The defendants—her uncle, her mother, and another man—face 21 counts of sexual assault and rape from 2000 to 2014, mainly at the family home. All three defendants plead not guilty. The woman gave direct evidence that she was about five‑and‑a‑half when her uncle first raped her, that she was eight at a later oral rape, and that she saw her mother and uncle engaging in sex when she was around six. She also testified that she was sexually assaulted by her mother multiple times and by a family friend.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 16‑year‑old pleaded guilty to three sexual offences against a nine‑year‑old foster child, including oral rape and two sexual assaults between June 2022 and August 2023. He admitted to habitual viewing of pornography on his phone and to having forced the child to perform oral sex on him on about ten occasions. The child, who had lived with the family for five years, was removed to her grandmother's care after the abuse was reported. The teenager expressed remorse and said he was sorry and ashamed. Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed an 18‑month detention for the oral rape and a concurrent 12‑month detention for the other two offences, deferring the sentence until April 2025 to review the teenager's progress. The court noted the child's ongoing therapy and the impact on her family.
In the High Court, lawyers for Nikita Hand argued that the Director of Public Prosecutions should consider perjury proceedings after Conor McGregor withdrew his bid to introduce new evidence in his appeal of a civil jury's finding that he raped Ms Hand. The civil case, decided last year, awarded Ms Hand €248,000 in damages. McGregor's appeal team had planned to present sworn statements from neighbours Samantha O'Reilly and Steven Cummins, who claimed to have seen an assault. O'Reilly's affidavit suggested she witnessed a man push Ms Hand to the ground and then kick her, but Ms Hand has called the allegations "lies" and "vigorously" disputed them. The court allowed McGregor's withdrawal of the new evidence application, and the appeal will continue tomorrow. The case remains at the appeal stage, with no further decisions yet.
A Spanish tourist, aged 19 at the time, was raped in Dublin city centre on New Year's Eve 2019. The victim, who has since expressed a desire to meet her attacker in a safe space, said she wants to confront him about his cruelty and to see him acknowledge his wrongdoing. Christopher O'Grady, 33, was found guilty of one count of rape in March 2025. He has 65 prior convictions and was homeless during the offence. The victim's impact statement described lasting trauma, including loss of confidence, fear of walking alone at night, and hypervigilance. O'Grady has admitted guilt and wishes to apologise. Both parties have agreed to consider restorative justice, but the court noted that this does not preclude a custodial sentence. The case was adjourned to July 24 for the prosecution to investigate the restorative justice option. The trial also covered the victim's subsequent encounter with a second man, who was not charged.
A 33-year-old man from County Mayo has pleaded not guilty to charges of sexual assault and child defilement at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court. He denies sexually assaulting a female at a county address between 14 and 15 July 2020, and separately denies defiling a child under 17 at another location on 15 July 2020. The defence indicated the alleged incidents occurred at a work or office gathering. A jury of twelve was sworn in by Judge Eoin Garavan, with the trial expected to conclude within three days.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 39‑year‑old Garda Shane Flanagan pleaded guilty to inciting two men to rape a woman and to six counts of endangerment for impersonating her on FetLife.com and Facebook, inviting violence against her and her two teenage daughters between 2018 and 2020. He also pleaded guilty to possession of four images of child sexual abuse material. The victim, who had no romantic or sexual history with Flanagan, described the impersonation as a calculated, predatory act that left her lifelong scars. Flanagan, who had been suspended in 2021 and retired in March 2024, was remanded in custody for finalisation of sentence. The court heard extensive evidence, including over 2,000 screenshots, 219 doctored images, and the victim's address and personal details shared by Flanagan. The case highlighted the breach of trust by a fellow Garda and the severe impact on the victim's safety and mental health.
A 43-year-old man was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for raping his estranged wife at their Tipperary home. The defendant, who pleaded not guilty to two charges of rape alleged to have occurred in April and May 2022, was convicted by a jury on one count. The jury failed to reach a verdict on the first incident, and the Director of Public Prosecutions entered a nolle prosequi, meaning that charge will not be tried again. Mr Justice Paul Burns imposed a sentence of seven years, with the final year suspended for three years. The court heard that the victim, who had been married to the accused since 2010, used a rolling pin to fight him off during the May 2022 incident. The judge noted the accused had broken trust by taking advantage of the victim while she was asleep in her own bed, citing their prior relationship as an aggravating factor. Mitigating factors included the defendant's lack of prior convictions, work history, cooperation with gardaí, and status as a good father. The victim's impact statement described severe mental and financial distress, including PTSD and an inability to work. Defence counsel noted the client did not accept the verdict but had been cooperative during the investigation.
Conal Sheridan, aged 32, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to multiple counts of sexual assault, oral rape and defilement of a girl aged nine to sixteen between 2004 and 2011. The abuse began with inappropriate touching and escalated to digital penetration, oral rape, and grooming, including sending pornography. Sheridan's four prior convictions were for minor road traffic and drug offences. The victim, who remained anonymous, testified that the abuse destroyed her life, leading to overdose attempts, self‑harm, drug and alcohol problems, severe mental health issues and complex PTSD. Sheridan's plea of mitigation highlighted his early fatherhood and employment history. Judge Paul McDermott imposed a concurrent seven‑year prison term, suspended the final 18 months for two years on strict conditions, and ordered Sheridan to have no contact with the victim. The sentence reflects the prolonged, repeated nature of the offences and the significant harm caused.
In the Central Criminal Court, a woman accused her mother, an uncle and another man of raping and sexually assaulting her between 2000 and 2014. She denied that friends influenced her to report the allegations to the gardai. During cross‑examination she confirmed that her mother had abused her, including at a family holiday home when she was four, and that she had been raped by her uncle when she was about five and a half. She also testified that her mother and uncle had sex while she was present at age six, and that she had been orally raped by a man in his 50s at age 13. The defendants, who cannot be named, pleaded not guilty to all 21 counts of sexual assault and rape. The case is still before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury.
Andrew Cooney, 44, was sentenced to 13 years in prison with a two‑year suspended portion after pleading guilty to aggravated sexual assault, assault causing harm and threats to kill against two escort women. The first victim, who had recently arrived in Ireland, was attacked on 9 October 2022 while at Cooney's home in Collins Place. He threatened her with a knife, forced sexual contact and struck her repeatedly, causing broken nose, lip cuts and other injuries. The second victim was assaulted on 8 September 2023 after Cooney lured her to his house, again using a knife, striking her, removing her clothes and sexually assaulting her. Both women suffered severe physical injuries and reported ongoing fear and inability to work. Cooney had been on bail for the first offence when the second attack occurred.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing, a woman testified that her mother repeatedly sexually assaulted her from age three and a half to fifteen, and that her uncle and a third man also raped her. The allegations cover 21 counts of sexual assault and rape, with incidents dated between 2000 and 2014, mainly at the family home. The defendants deny wrongdoing and plead not guilty to all charges. The witness described her mother's violent, alcohol‑driven behaviour, her mother's attempts to normalise the abuse, and her uncle's repeated rapes, including an oral rape. She also recounted an alleged rape by a man in his 50s who was a friend of her mother's partner. The trial is ongoing before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury.
The Court of Appeal has refused an application to extend time for an appeal against the sentence of a 53-year-old man convicted of sexual exploitation, sexual assault, and child cruelty. The appellant, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the injured parties, was found guilty by a jury in the north west on May 19, 2022. He was subsequently sentenced by Judge John Aylmer on November 2, 2022, to nine years and six months in prison, with the final 12 months suspended. The offences, which occurred between June 2011 and September 2015, involved the appellant's daughters, who were in their early to mid-teens at the time. Defence counsel Dara Foynes SC submitted an enlargement of time application, arguing the appellant believed his notice of appeal was on record, though his solicitor stated it was never received. Mr Justice John Edwards noted the appellant had made no engagement with the sentencing judge's remarks and raised no error of principle. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, delivering the ruling for the three-judge court, stated that victims have a legitimate expectation of closure and that courts must not permit cases to be elongated. He emphasized that reopening the case would cause revictimization to the injured parties. The court found no basis to justify ventilating the case afresh and refused the application to extend time, denying the defence an adjournment to file further affidavits.
Jibola Moses Akanni, 27, of Drogheda, Co Louth, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court after being found guilty by a jury of two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. The offences occurred in a Dublin city centre apartment in February 2018, where the court heard the 17-year-old victim was intoxicated and barely conscious. Mr Justice David Keane noted aggravating factors including the victim's vulnerability and the age disparity. Although Akanni has 28 previous convictions for other matters, the judge stated no credit was given for a guilty plea as none was offered, nor for remorse. The judge determined there was no realistic hope of rehabilitation and refused to suspend any part of the sentence. Akanni was sentenced to eight and a half years on each rape count and three and a half years for sexual assault, all to run concurrently and backdated to November when he entered custody. To protect the public from the risk of sexual reoffending, the judge ordered that Akanni be placed under the supervision of the Probation Services for two years post-release, instructing him to carry out all directions deemed necessary by the service.
A mother, her brother, and another man have gone on trial at the Central Criminal Court accused of the sexual abuse of her young daughter. The complainant's mother, her uncle, and another man face a total of 21 counts of sexual assault and rape, which allegedly occurred on dates between 2000 and 2014, mainly at the family home within the State. The three defendants, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the complainant, deny wrongdoing and have pleaded not guilty to all charges. The complainant's mother, who is in her 50s, has pleaded not guilty to 13 counts of sexual assault on dates between 2000 and 2009, and between 2012 and 2014, primarily at the family home. She also pleaded not guilty to one count of rape, in that she facilitated the rape of the complainant by the complainant's uncle. The complainant's maternal uncle, who is in his 40s, has pleaded not guilty to five counts of rape and one of oral rape on dates between 2003 and 2012, all at the same family home. A second man, aged in his 50s, has pleaded not guilty to one count of oral rape between 2008 and 2009 at the same address. The trial continues before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury.
Joseph Thorpe, aged 73, a former Dublin football club coach, pleaded guilty to one count of indecent assault for sexually assaulting a boy aged 12‑14 during a club trip to County Kerry between September 1974 and September 1976. The victim, who wishes to remain anonymous, stated that the assault occurred in a shared caravan bed while other children were present. Thorpe has five prior convictions, including a 1990 suspended sentence for indecent assault of another teenage boy. Judge Martina Baxter, noting Thorpe's position of trust and the profound impact on the victim, imposed a 20‑month imprisonment sentence suspended in full for 24 months and ordered 18 months of probation supervision. Thorpe was remanded in custody last week and described the conditions as shocking. The court heard that Thorpe is estranged from his children, has a history of postal work, and has complex medical issues.
Randi Gladstone, a 41‑year‑old Guyanese sex offender, was sentenced by Mr Justice Paul McDermott to six months' imprisonment for failing to register as a sex offender within seven days of arriving in Ireland, a separate offence from the rape and false imprisonment for which he had already been convicted and sentenced to ten years by Mr Justice Patrick McGrath. Gladstone, who had been in Ireland for only a few days before raping an 18‑year‑old in a holiday complex in County Dublin on 25 August 2023, had not notified An Garda Síochána of his status as a convicted sex offender, a breach punishable by up to five years' imprisonment. The judge imposed the six‑month term consecutively to the existing ten‑year sentence, meaning Gladstone will serve the additional six months on top of the original custodial period. He will serve the sentence at Midlands Prison. Randi Gladstone pleaded guilty.
Aidan Clohessy, aged 85, was sentenced yesterday to four years for indecently assaulting two boys in the 1980s. He had previously been convicted of 19 counts of indecent assault involving six boys, with five counts from a second trial for assaulting four boys between 1969 and 1986. Judge Martin Nolan, after considering the totality principle and Clohessy's age, imposed an additional 16‑month sentence to run consecutively with the earlier four‑year term, giving a global sentence of five years and four months. The offences involved inappropriate touching and physical chastisement of boys aged 10 to 13 who were pupils, and some boarders, at St Augustine's School in Blackrock, Dublin, where Clohessy served as principal from the early 1970s until 1993. The court noted that Clohessy was in a position of trust and that the victims were vulnerable. The 16‑month term is to be served after the four‑year sentence already imposed. Aidan Clohessy pleaded not guilty.
An 85‑year‑old former principal of St Augustine's School, Aidan Clohessy, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment after being convicted of 19 counts of indecent assault against six boys aged 10 to 13. The offences, which took place between 1969 and 1986, involved inappropriate touching and were described by the judge as "atrocities at night time". Clohessy, who served as principal from the early 1970s until 1993, was found guilty in two separate trials at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. In the first trial he received 14 counts of indecent assault, and in the second he received five counts. He was acquitted of three further counts. Victim impact statements highlighted lasting mental health, educational and employment effects. Clohessy denied wrongdoing and acknowledged corporal punishment used at the school. He will not appeal the verdicts. The sentence was imposed with consideration of his age and health.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing in Limerick, Thomas "Tossy" Nyhan, a 60‑year‑old married farmer from Crookstown, Co Cork, was convicted of two counts of rape. The victim, who had been raped by Nyhan in January 2011 and again in April 2019, delivered a victim impact statement in which he described the assaults as "cold, calculated and violent." He said he had told Nyhan about his trauma and vulnerabilities, and that Nyhan had used references to his children to manipulate him. The victim reported feeling constantly anxious, "trapped" and "a ghost" of his former self. He urged the court to impose a sentence that reflected the impact of the rapes and thanked those who had supported him. Justice Mary Ellen Ring revoked Nyhan's bail, remanded him in custody and postponed sentencing to 21 July 2025. Nyhan denied the allegations and his lawyer maintained his innocence. The unnamed man pleaded not guilty.