Ireland Case No. 2259Sexual assault, assault · 25 Jun 2020
Army captain loses appeal against dismissal for sexual assault in Leinster
Ross O'Shea, a former army captain, was convicted by a General Court Martial on 14 October 2022 of sexually assaulting a female non-commissioned officer by moving his open palms up and down her back at the officers' mess following a social function at a barracks in Leinster on 25 June 2020. He was also found guilty of one charge of assault under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. His sentence included dismissal from the Defence Forces and a six-month custodial term at Curragh Camp suspended for one year. His appeal against conviction was dismissed by the Court of Appeal in October 2024, and in November 2025 the Court of Appeal rejected his appeal against his dismissal.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court11 Jun
3 reports - Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced4 Nov
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Ross O'Shea, a former army captain, was convicted of sexually assaulting a female non-commissioned officer by moving his open palms up and down her back at the officers' mess.
- He was also found guilty of one charge of assault under Section 2 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 by moving towards the woman in a manner that caused her to apprehend an assault.
- Where
- The offences occurred at a barracks in Leinster following a barbeque hosted by the Covid Joint Task Force during a lockdown period.
- When
- The offences occurred on 25 June 2020.
- Charges
- O'Shea faced 18 offences before the court martial; he pleaded guilty to five, was convicted of two, acquitted of seven, and four were withdrawn.
- In court
- He was tried in September 2022 before military judge Colonel Michael Campion and a court martial board, and found guilty on 14 October 2022.
- His appeal against conviction was dismissed by the three-judge Court of Appeal in October 2024.
- The Court of Appeal rejected his appeal against his dismissal in November 2025.
- Sentence
- His sentence included dismissal from the Defence Forces and a six-month custodial term at Curragh Camp suspended for one year.
- Other details
- The complainant sought help from other officers but O'Shea told them to 'f**k off'.
- O'Shea had a 17-year military career described as 'glittering' by his defence.
52 statements extracted from the articles
- whatAn Army captain appealed his conviction for sexually assaulting a female soldier. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe offences occurred during a barbeque hosted by the Covid Joint Task Force during a lockdown period. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe complainant sought help from other officers but O'Shea told them to 'f**k off'. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatRoss O’Shea was found guilty by a General Court Martial in October 2022 of sexually assaulting a female non-commissioned officer. (kildarenow.com)
- whatO’Shea moved his open palms up and down the woman's back while saying "come on, come on" or words to that effect. (kildarenow.com)
- whatRoss O'Shea, a former army captain, failed in his appeal against his dismissal from the Defence Forces. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe social function took place at a barracks in Leinster. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe offences occurred at a barbecue hosted by the Covid Joint Task Force during lockdown. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe sexual assault took place at the Officer’s Mess. (kildarenow.com)
- whereThe offence occurred at a barracks in Leinster following a social function. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe offence occurred on 25 June 2020. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe sexual assault occurred on 25 June 2020 following a social function at a barracks in Leinster. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe offence followed a social function at a barracks in Leinster on June 25, 2020. (kildarenow.com)
- whenThe offence occurred on June 25th, 2020. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe appeal argues that missing CCTV footage deprived him of a line of defence. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe offences occurred during a Covid-19 lockdown at a barbeque hosted by the Covid Joint Task Force. (kildarenow.com)
- investigationThe footage no longer existed by the time he came to court. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe was convicted on 14 October 2022 of sexually assaulting the woman by moving his open palms up and down her back. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe was also found guilty of one charge of assault against the same officer under Section 2 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe was also found guilty of one charge of assault under Section 2 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeHe pleaded guilty to five charges, was convicted of two, acquitted of seven, and four were withdrawn. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeO’Shea was also found guilty of one charge of assault against the same officer under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. (kildarenow.com)
- chargeO'Shea was convicted of sexually assaulting the woman by moving his open palms up and down her back at the officers' mess. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeO'Shea was also found guilty of one charge of assault under Section 2 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeO'Shea faced a total of 18 offences before the court martial. (irishtimes.com)
- courtA general court martial found him guilty in October 2022 of sexually assaulting a female non-commissioned officer. (irishtimes.com)
- courtHis counsel told the Court of Appeal that the two charges are the subject of the appeal. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe State argued that CCTV footage could not add anything to the established facts. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe prosecution said the area of contention was vanishingly tiny. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe Court of Appeal reserved judgment. (irishtimes.com)
- courtJames Dwyer SC argued the sentence represented an error in principle and the dismissal was disproportionate. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtMr Justice John Edwards said the court would reserve judgment. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtO’Shea was charged with a total of 18 offences before the Court Martial. (kildarenow.com)
- courtO’Shea's appeal against his conviction was dismissed by the three-judge Court of Appeal in the previous October. (kildarenow.com)
- courtO'Shea's lawyers appealed the severity of his sentence at the Court of Appeal. (kildarenow.com)
- courtThe defence argued that the dismissal was disproportionate. (kildarenow.com)
- courtThe prosecution said the sentence was on the lower end and that the disparity in rank was an aggravating factor. (kildarenow.com)
- courtThe Court of Appeal judge said the court would reserve judgment. (kildarenow.com)
- courtO'Shea was found guilty by a General Court Martial in October 2022 of sexually assaulting a female non-commissioned officer. (irishtimes.com)
- courtO'Shea pleaded guilty to five charges, was convicted of two, acquitted of seven, and four were withdrawn. (irishtimes.com)
- courtMr Justice John Edwards said the military judge's conclusion that dismissal was required was justified. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceHis dismissal from the Army was ordered as part of the sentence. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceHis dismissal from the Defence Forces was ordered as part of the sentence. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceA custodial sentence of six months' detention in the Curragh Camp was imposed but suspended for one year. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceO’Shea's dismissal from the defence forces was ordered as part of the sentence. (kildarenow.com)
- sentenceA six-month custodial sentence in the Curragh Camp was imposed but suspended for one year. (kildarenow.com)
- sentenceDismissal was ordered as part of the sentence. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceA six-month detention sentence in the Curragh Camp was imposed but suspended for one year. (irishtimes.com)
- otherHe remains a serving member of the Army pending appeal. (irishtimes.com)
- otherO'Shea had a 17-year military career described as 'glittering' by his defence. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe offences occurred when O'Shea attended a Covid Joint Task Force barbeque during a lockdown. (irishtimes.com)
- otherO'Shea's lawyers argued the offences were an aberration in an otherwise glittering career. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 4 Nov2025Former army captain who sexually assaulted female soldier loses appeal against dismissal
Reports the Court of Appeal's judgment rejecting O'Shea's appeal against his dismissal, which was part of the 2022 court martial sentence. It adds the appeal reasoning, the defence and prosecution arguments, and the 2022 sentence details.
convicted, Ross O'Shea, male, named, irish (judged from name)Ross O'Sheavictim, female - 22 Feb2025Lawyers appeal ex Army captain's sentence for sex assault on female soldier at BBQ
Reports the Court of Appeal hearing of the defence's appeal against sentence, which was reserved for judgment. Adds the sentence details, the defence and prosecution arguments, and the conviction history of the case. The incident itself is not in the existing case list.
convicted, Ross O'Shea, named, irish (judged from name)Ross O'Sheavictim, female - 21 Feb2025Army Captain's sex assault an 'aberration' in 'glittering career', lawyers say
Appeal against severity of sentence heard at the Court of Appeal on 21 February 2025; Mr Justice John Edwards reserved judgment. Defence argued dismissal was disproportionate; prosecution emphasised rank disparity and 'innate deference'.
convicted, male, irish (judged from name)victim, female - 11 Jun2024Army captain appealing sex assault conviction argues missing footage robbed him of potential defence
Reports the Court of Appeal hearing of Capt Ross O’Shea’s appeal against his conviction for sexual assault and assault. It adds the appeal argument about missing CCTV footage, the State’s response, and that judgment was reserved.
convicted, Ross O'Shea, male, named, irish (judged from name)Ross O'Sheavictim, female