Wednesday 28 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. 3053Sexual abuse, attempted rape, oral rape · Co. Dublin

Church pastor (83) jailed for 12½ years for sexual abuse of child in congregation

An 83-year-old church pastor was sentenced to 12½ years in prison after being found guilty by a jury of attempted rape, oral rape and three counts of sexual abuse of a child in his congregation, with the abuse occurring between December 2013 and April 2018. Judge Kerida Naidoo imposed a headline sentence of 14 years with 18 months suspended on strict conditions.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced18 May
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
38 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe man is 83 years old (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe victim was between 8 and 11 years old during the abuse (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe man was in his 70s during the abuse (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe man was a pastor in the church and the complainant was a member of his congregation (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe victim is now 20 years old (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe man targeted the victim when she was using the toilet in the church (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe abuse escalated to attempted rape (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe girl was anxious and distressed and tried not to eat or drink before going to church (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe victim is hyper-vigilant, startles easily, has nightmares and night terrors (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe offending took place over a two- to three-year period (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe victim is a 24-year-old Spanish national. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatShe gave him her number on the back of a sugar sachet. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatShehata was a 19-year-old engineering student at the time of the incident. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe woman had a medical difficulty for which she had been prescribed medication. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatOn the day of the rape, they had consensual sex but she was in pain afterwards. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatShehata offered a massage, she consented, but he then began to have sex with her. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatShehata apologised, kissed her on the forehead and left to catch a Luas. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe woman had come to Ireland to set up a new life and improve her English. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatShe has since returned to Spain and was not present in court for the sentence hearing. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatShe suffered many anxiety attacks and nightmares after the rape. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatShehata did not use a condom during the rape. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe abuse took place at a church within the State (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe victim met Shehata in the cafe he worked at in Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe abuse occurred on dates between December 2013 and April 2018 (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe rape took place on 16 September 2022 in the victim's Dublin apartment. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationHe was arrested after the woman reported the incident to gardaí and made no admissions. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeHe was found guilty of one count of attempted rape (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeHe was found guilty of one count of oral rape (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeHe was found guilty of three counts of sexual abuse (irishtimes.com)
  • courtHe stood trial in the Central Criminal Court earlier this year (irishtimes.com)
  • courtShehata was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury of one charge of rape. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtMr Justice Paul Burns said a headline sentence of seven years was justified. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceHe was sentenced to five years in prison with the final year suspended on strict conditions. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe conditions include that Shehata engage with the Probation Service for three years upon his release. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherHe had denied the allegations (irishtimes.com)
  • otherHe has no previous convictions (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe man has been in custody since his conviction (irishtimes.com)
  • otherHe has a number of health issues (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 19 May2026
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Man who raped woman he was in relationship with jailed for four years

    Reports the sentencing of Youssef Shehata to five years (four effective) for rape, including the victim's impact statement, the judge's remarks on the headline sentence of seven years, and the suspended conditions requiring engagement with the Probation Service.

    victim, 24, female, Spanish, non-irishconvicted, Youssef Shehata, 23, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Youssef Shehata
  2. 18 May2026
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Church pastor (83) jailed for 12½ years for sexual abuse of a child in his congregation

    Reports the sentencing of the 83-year-old pastor, including the victim impact statement, the judge's reasoning, and the suspended portion of the sentence.

    convicted, 83, malevictim, 20, female