Saturday 31 October 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. 21265Harassment · Co. Dublin

American actor jailed for harassing Irish woman over three years

Stephen Spenneberg (55), an American man, harassed an Irish woman, with whom he had a brief romantic relationship, on dates between 10 May 2020 and 3 January 2023. He was arrested on 7 January 2023 at a location in the south of the country and was charged with harassment. Sent forward for sentence on a signed plea from the District Court, he was sentenced on 3 May 2023 at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two years in prison with the final year suspended, backdated to 7 January 2023. The judge also ordered that he have no contact with the woman, permanently and by any means.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court3 May
    2 reports
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced3 May
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Stephen Spenneberg, an American man aged 55, harassed an Irish woman over a three-year period.
  • Spenneberg continued to contact the woman directly and indirectly by phone, email and social media.
Where
Spenneberg came to Ireland and went to a commercial premises connected with the woman's family in Munster.
When
The harassment took place on dates between 10 May 2020 and 3 January 2023.
Cause
The woman had ended a brief romantic relationship with Spenneberg after returning to Ireland from a J1 trip to the US in 2003.
Investigation
  • The woman complained to gardaí, who contacted Spenneberg and told him to stop contacting her.
  • Spenneberg was arrested on 7 January 2023 at a location in the south of the country.
Charges
Spenneberg was charged with harassment and pleaded guilty.
In court
  • Spenneberg was sent forward for sentence on a signed plea from the District Court.
  • He was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Orla Crowe.
Sentence
  • The judge set a headline sentence of three years and reduced it to two years, with the final year suspended, for mitigation including his guilty plea.
  • Sources describe the sentence as two years in prison with the final year suspended, while one headline describes it as jailed for a year.
  • The sentence was backdated to 7 January 2023.
  • He was ordered to stay away from the woman and have no contact with her, permanently and by any means.
Other details
Spenneberg has no previous convictions in Ireland, and a victim impact statement was handed in but not read aloud.
51 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatSpenneberg continued to contact the woman directly and indirectly by phone, email and social media. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatA husband and wife and their three sons are on trial accused of various sexual offences and assaults against four members of their extended family. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatAn American actor harassed an Irish woman over a three-year period. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereSpenneberg came to Ireland and went to a commercial premises connected with the woman's family in Munster. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereThe trial is taking place at the Central Criminal Court. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe harassment took place on dates between 10 May 2020 and 3 January 2023. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe alleged offences occurred between September 1999 and February 2004. (offalyexpress.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe harassment occurred on dates between May 10th, 2020 and January 3rd, 2023. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenHe was arrested on January 7th. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe woman had ended a brief romantic relationship with Spenneberg. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationThe woman complained to gardaí, who contacted Spenneberg and told him to stop contacting her. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationSpenneberg was arrested on 7 January 2023 at a location in the south of the country. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationThe woman complained to gardaí, who contacted the accused to tell him to stop contacting her. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe first accused has pleaded not guilty to 25 charges, including two of anal rape of his granddaughter. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeThe first accused has also denied 21 charges against his nephew, including 12 of anal rape, ten of oral rape and one of assault causing harm. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeThe second accused has pleaded not guilty to 31 charges, including two of anal rape and one of rape of his niece. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeThe second accused has also denied four charges of sexually assaulting his sister, 21 of raping her and three of orally raping her. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeThe third accused has pleaded not guilty to 36 charges, including two of anal rape of the granddaughter and two of anal rape of a second male complainant, his cousin. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeThe third accused has also denied four charges of sexual assault, 22 of rape and six of oral rape against his sister. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeThe fourth accused has pleaded not guilty to concealing the effects of anal rape by giving the complainant, her granddaughter, an adult diaper and convincing her not to return to her parents. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeThe fourth accused has also pleaded not guilty to assaulting her nephew, and to assaulting her granddaughter, causing harm to both. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeThe fifth accused has pleaded not guilty to 31 charges against his sister, including five of sexual assault, 23 of rape and three of oral rape. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeThe first accused has pleaded not guilty to 25 charges, including two of anally raping his granddaughter. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe first accused has also denied 21 charges against his nephew, including anal rape, oral rape and assault causing harm. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe second accused has pleaded not guilty to 31 charges, including anal rape and rape of his niece. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe third accused has pleaded not guilty to 36 charges, including anal rape of his niece and of a male cousin, and rape and oral rape of his sister. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe fourth accused has pleaded not guilty to concealing the effects of an anal rape by giving the complainant an adult diaper and convincing her not to return to her parents. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe fourth accused has also pleaded not guilty to assaulting her nephew and her granddaughter causing harm. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe fifth accused has pleaded not guilty to 31 charges against his sister, including sexual assault, rape and oral rape. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtSentence was passed at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • courtSpenneberg was sent forward for sentence on a signed plea from the District Court. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe trial is expected to last three weeks and continues before Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtFive members of one family have gone on trial at the Central Criminal Court over alleged sexual offences and assaults against four relatives. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe trial is expected to last three weeks and is before Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe accused was sent forward for sentence on a signed plea from the District Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceSpenneberg was sentenced to two years in prison, with the final year suspended. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of three years and reduced it to two years with 12 months suspended for mitigation, including his guilty plea. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceThe sentence was backdated to 7 January 2023. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceSpenneberg was ordered to stay away from the injured party and have no contact with her on a permanent basis. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceHe was sentenced to two years in prison with the final year suspended. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of three years, reduced to two years with 12 months suspended for mitigation. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe sentence was backdated to January 7th. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceHe was ordered to have no contact with the injured party, permanently and by any means. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherSpenneberg has no previous convictions in Ireland. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherA victim impact statement was handed into court but was not read aloud. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe prosecution told the jury that all of the complainants and accused are inter-related and part of an extended traveller family. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe prosecution said all the complainants and accused are related and part of an extended Traveller family. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe prosecutor said each of the four complainants was sexually abused by some of the accused. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherMitigating factors included his guilty plea and that he would be in custody far from home. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe court heard he was told by third parties, including gardaí and Kentucky police, to stop contacting the woman. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherHe came to Ireland and went to a commercial premises connected with the woman’s family in Munster. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 3 May2023
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Actor (55) jailed for harassing Irish woman 20 years after J1 trip

    Sentencing report for harassment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The harassment ran over a period rather than a single date. No matching case in the existing list.

    convicted, Stephen Spenneberg, 55, male, American, named, non-irishStephen Spennebergvictim, female, Irish, irish
  2. 3 May2023
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Man and three sons go on trial accused of sexual offences and assaults against relatives

    Reports the start of the trial of five family members at the Central Criminal Court, including each accused's plea and the offences alleged against the four complainants, and the offence period of September 1999 to February 2004.

    accused, 66, maleaccused, 41, maleaccused, 38, maleaccused, 63, femaleaccused, 40, malevictim, 33, malevictim, 30, malevictim, 30, femalevictim, 36, female
  3. 3 May2023
    In courtoffalyexpress.ie, follow-up
    Family go on trial accused of range of sexual abuse and assaults on other members of the family

    Reports the opening of the trial, the number of charges each accused faces and their not guilty pleas, and the period in which the alleged offences occurred. No verdict is reported.

    accused, 66, maleaccused, 41, maleaccused, 38, maleaccused, 63, femaleaccused, malevictim, malevictim, malevictim, 30, femalevictim, 36, female
  4. 3 May2023
    Sentencedthejournal.ie, follow-up
    US actor who harassed Irish doctor after meeting her on a J1 20 years ago is jailed for a year

    Adds the sentence details: two years in prison with 12 months suspended, the judge's headline sentence of three years, backdating to 7 January, a permanent no-contact order, the defendant's guilty plea and mitigation, and the court hearing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

    convicted, Stephen Spenneberg, 55, male, American, named, non-irishStephen Spennebergvictim, female, Irish, irish