Sunday 1 November 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 3321Indecent assault · Co. Clare · 1 Jul 1973

92-year-old convicted of indecent assault at Ennis Circuit Court

A 92-year-old Co Clare man was found guilty by a jury at Ennis Circuit Court on 28 October 2026 of eight counts of indecent assault on two young girls between July 1973 and January 1975. The two sisters, now in their early 60s, had lost both parents by the ages of five and four and came into the care of the accused and his wife, who was a god-mother to one of the girls. The sisters, who had travelled from the US and Canada to give evidence, told each other about the assaults in 1987 but did not report them to Gardaí until 2024. The man, aged 39 or 40 at the time of the offences, paid a €70,000 civil settlement in November 2024 with no admission of liability. Sentencing is expected to be fixed, possibly in December 2026.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court28 Oct
  5. Convicted28 Oct
    3 reports
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A 92-year-old Co Clare man was found guilty of eight counts of indecent assault on two young girls.
  • The two complainants were sisters who had lost both parents by the ages of five and four and came into the care of the accused and his wife in the early 1970s.
  • The sisters were aged nine or ten and eight or nine at the time of the assaults and are now in their early 60s.
  • The man was aged 39 or 40 at the time of the offences and was a quasi-father figure to the girls.
  • The man paid a €70,000 civil settlement in November 2024, comprising €60,000 to the sisters and €10,000 in legal costs, with no admission of liability.
  • The sisters told each other about the assaults in 1987 but did not report them to Gardaí until 2024.
Where
The trial took place at Ennis Circuit Court.
When
The alleged offences occurred between 1 July 1973 and 31 January 1975.
Charges
The man was charged with eight counts of indecent assault, two relating to the younger sister and six to the older sister.
In court
A jury of 11 returned a unanimous guilty verdict on all eight counts after one hour and 42 minutes of deliberation on 28 October 2026.
Sentence
Sentencing is expected to be fixed, possibly in December 2026, and the accused could be remanded on bail pending sentence.
Other details
  • The man has a previous conviction for indecently assaulting a 13-year-old boy in 1985, for which he received a suspended 12-month prison term in 2011.
  • The man requires a mobility scooter and his wife, who was god-mother to one of the girls, died in late 2023.
52 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe accused was aged between 39 and 40 at the time of the alleged offences. (clareecho.ie)
  • whatThe accused paid €70,000 in a civil settlement in November 2024. (clareecho.ie)
  • whatThe accused was aware of an ongoing criminal investigation at the time of the payment. (clareecho.ie)
  • whatThe accused was a quasi father figure to the two orphaned girls. (clareecho.ie)
  • whatThe two girls had lost both parents by the time they reached the ages of five and four. (clareecho.ie)
  • whatThe complainants told each other about the indecent assaults in 1987. (clareecho.ie)
  • whatThe accused's wife was god-mother to one of the girls and took them in after their parents died. (clareecho.ie)
  • whatThe defence stated the €70,000 was paid without an admission of liability. (clareecho.ie)
  • whatThe defence argued the complainants were talking to each other 40 years ago but not to Gardaí. (clareecho.ie)
  • whatTwo counts related to the younger sister and six counts concerned the older sister. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe two sisters were aged 9/10 and 8/9 at the time of the assaults. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe sisters are now in their early 60s and had travelled from the US and Canada to give evidence. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe man paid €30,000 to each sister and €10,000 in legal costs. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe €70,000 settlement was made with no admission of liability. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe sisters lost both parents by ages five and four and came into the care of the accused and his wife in the early 1970s. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe man requires a mobility scooter and was aged 39 or 40 at the time of the offences. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatA 92-year-old Co Clare man was found guilty of eight counts of indecent assault. (rte.ie)
  • whatThe two complainants were sisters who lost both parents when they were young. (rte.ie)
  • whereThe verdict was returned at Ennis Circuit Court. (rte.ie)
  • whenThe alleged offences occurred between 1 July 1973 and 31 January 1975. (clareecho.ie)
  • whenThe accused's wife died in late 2023. (clareecho.ie)
  • whenThe offences occurred between 1 July 1973 and 31 January 1975. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe indecent assaults took place on dates from July 1973 to January 1975. (clareecho.ie)
  • whenThe offences were committed on dates from 1 July 1973 to 31 January 1975. (rte.ie)
  • investigationThe younger sister was asked why she waited until 2024 to make a complaint. (clareecho.ie)
  • investigationThe State said the accused could be further remanded on bail pending sentence. (rte.ie)
  • chargeThe accused denies eight counts of indecently assaulting two young girls. (clareecho.ie)
  • chargeTwo counts relate to the younger sister and six to the older sister. (clareecho.ie)
  • chargeThe man was found guilty of eight counts of indecent assault against the two sisters. (clareecho.ie)
  • courtThe case is being tried at Ennis Circuit Court. (clareecho.ie)
  • courtThe jury commenced deliberations just before 4pm on Tuesday and deliberated until 5pm. (clareecho.ie)
  • courtThe 11 members of the jury are to recommence deliberations on Wednesday morning. (clareecho.ie)
  • courtA jury at Ennis Circuit Court returned a unanimous guilty verdict on eight counts of indecent assault. (thejournal.ie, clareecho.ie)
  • courtThe jury of seven women and four men took one hour and 42 minutes to reach their verdict. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe case may be adjourned to fix a sentencing date, possibly in December. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe jury took one hour and 42 minutes to reach a unanimous verdict. (clareecho.ie)
  • courtThe accused could be further remanded on bail pending sentence. (clareecho.ie)
  • courtThe case could be adjourned to the call-over next month to fix a sentence date, possibly in December. (clareecho.ie)
  • courtThe jury of eleven returned its verdict after one hour and 42 minutes of deliberation. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceIn 2011 the man received a suspended 12-month prison term for the 1985 offence. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceIn 2011 the man received a suspended 12-month prison term after pleading guilty to a sex offence. (clareecho.ie)
  • sentenceSentencing may be scheduled for December after medical documents are gathered. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe two sisters were aged 9/10 and 8/9 at the time of the indecent assaults. (clareecho.ie)
  • otherThe two sisters lost both parents by the time they were aged five and four. (clareecho.ie)
  • otherThe man was a quasi-father figure to the sisters at the time of the offences. (clareecho.ie)
  • otherThe man was aged between 39 and 40 at the time of the offences. (clareecho.ie)
  • otherThe man requires a mobility scooter to get around. (clareecho.ie)
  • otherThe man paid €60,000 in November 2024 as part of a €70,000 civil settlement, made with no admission of liability. (clareecho.ie)
  • otherThe man has one previous conviction for indecent assault on a 13-year-old boy. (clareecho.ie)
  • otherThe complainants were aged eight to ten when the offences took place. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe accused had paid €60,000 in November 2024 as part of a €70,000 civil settlement, with no admission of liability. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe accused has one previous conviction for indecently assaulting a 13-year-old boy in 1985. (rte.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 28 Oct2026
    Convictedrte.ie, first report
    Man, 92, guilty of indecent assault on sisters in 1970s

    Reports the unanimous jury verdict at Ennis Circuit Court on 28 October 2026, the complainants' background, the earlier civil settlement and a previous conviction of the accused, and the expected sentencing timetable.

    convicted, 92, malevictim, early 60s, femalevictim, early 60s, female
  2. 28 Oct2026
    Convictedclareecho.ie, follow-up
    Man (92) who paid €60k to two orphaned sisters found guilty of sexually abusing them - Clare Echo

    First report of the unanimous guilty verdict at Ennis Circuit Court; sentence expected possibly in December 2026. The accused has a previous conviction for indecent assault against a 13-year-old boy in 1985, for which he received a suspended 12-month prison term in 2011.

    convicted, 92, malevictim, femalevictim, female
  3. 28 Oct2026
    Convictedthejournal.ie, first report
    Man (92) found guilty of indecent assault of two young girls who were in his care

    First report of the conviction. The man had previously paid €60,000 in a civil settlement in November 2024 and has a prior conviction for indecent assault of a boy in 1985. Sentencing date to be fixed, possibly in December.

    accused, 92, male, irish (judged from name)victim, female, irish (judged from name)victim, female, irish (judged from name)
  4. 28 Oct2026
    In courtclareecho.ie, first report
    90-year-old’s €70,000 payment to orphaned sisters evidence of man’s guilt of indecent assaults half a century ago, jury told - Clare Echo

    Reports closing arguments at Ennis Circuit Court and the start of jury deliberations on eight counts of indecent assault dating from 1973–1975.

    accused, 92, male, irish (judged from name)victim, femalevictim, female

Changed after publication

facts outlets added, removed or corrected

clareecho.ie, 31 Oct 2026: Man (92) who paid €60k to two orphaned sisters found guilty of sexually abusing them - Clare Echo

  • CorrectedThe man's age in the story changed from 90 to 70. (was 90-year-old, now Man (70))
  • CorrectedThe case is now described as a charge before court, not evidence heard by a jury about a half-century-old guilt. (was evidence of man's guilt of indecent assaults half a century ago, jury told, now charged with indecent assaults and sexual assault)
  • AddedThe charges are said to involve two Catholic Church buildings, two primary schools and a parochial house.