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. 0545Sexual assault · Co. Kildare

Appeal dismissed in Kildare sexual assault case

A man, now 81, was convicted of sexually assaulting his 15-year-old grandson at various locations in Leinster between June and September 2015. He pleaded not guilty to three counts and was convicted following two trials after the first jury failed to reach a verdict. Judge Martina Baxter at Naas Circuit Court sentenced him to five and a half years' imprisonment on 9 December 2024. The Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal against conviction in July 2026, ruling that a prepared statement he gave to gardaí in October 2017 was correctly excluded as self-serving and wholly exculpatory.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Convicted24 Jul
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • The defendant, now 81, was 70 at the time of the offences and sexually assaulted his 15-year-old grandson.
  • The defendant drove the victim in a golf cart and tried to masturbate him through his trousers, and pulled down the elasticated top of the victim's trousers and photographed his penis with his mobile phone.
Where
The first incident took place at a golf club, with other offences at various locations in Leinster.
When
The offences occurred between June and September 2015.
Charges
The man was charged with three counts of sexually assaulting his grandson.
In court
  • The man was convicted following two trials after the first jury failed to reach a verdict.
  • The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal against conviction in July 2026.
Sentence
Judge Martina Baxter at Naas Circuit Court sentenced the defendant to five and a half years' imprisonment on 9 December 2024.
Other details
  • The defendant gave a prepared statement to gardaí in October 2017 with the assistance of his daughter because he is illiterate.
  • The man was suffering from cancer.
11 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe defendant is now 81 years old and was 70 when the offending occurred. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe grandson was 15 years old at the time of the incidents. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe man drove the teenager in a golf cart to a different part of the course and tried to masturbate him through his trousers. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe defendant pulled down the elasticated top of the teenager's trousers and photographed his penis with his mobile phone. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe incidents took place at various locations in Leinster between June and September 2015. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeThe man pleaded not guilty to three counts of sexually assaulting his grandson. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe Court of Appeal upheld the conviction and dismissed the appeal. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtHe was convicted following two trials after the first jury failed to reach a verdict. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe appeal argued the trial judge erred in not allowing a prepared statement given to gardaí in October 2017 to go before the jury. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Martina Baxter at Naas Circuit Court sentenced him to five and a half years' imprisonment on 9 December 2024. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe prepared statement was made with the assistance of the defendant's daughter because he is illiterate. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 24 Jul2026
    Convictedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Court upholds pensioner’s conviction for sexually abusing grandson

    The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice Alexander Owens, dismissed the defendant's appeal against conviction, ruling that the trial judge was correct to exclude a prepared statement he gave to gardaí in October 2017 as it was 'self-serving' and 'wholly exculpatory'.

    convicted, 81, malevictim, 15, male