Thursday 29 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. 2121Sexual assault, rape (multiple counts) · Co. Donegal

Co Donegal man in his 60s extradited from Northern Ireland to face sex assault and rape charges

Between May 1998 and September 2000, Andrew Robert John McElhinney (59) of Muntermellon, Hornhead, Dunfanaghy, Co Donegal, sexually abused two girls aged around 14 and 16, almost entirely at his home. The women went to gardaí in 2017, when McElhinney was arrested and interviewed, and he was later extradited from Northern Ireland to face charges. A Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty of seven of nine counts following a trial in Monaghan in July 2024. In March 2025, Mr Justice Patrick McGrath imposed an 11-year sentence, reduced from a headline sentence of 12 years.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced11 Mar
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Andrew Robert John McElhinney, aged 59, was 19 years older than his two victims, who were aged around 14 and 16 at the time.
  • McElhinney regularly entered the first girl's bed at night to rape her, and he plied her with vodka and bought her cigarettes.
  • The second girl was sexually assaulted by McElhinney, who tweaked her nipple while she was asleep during a babysitting sleepover.
Other details
  • The teenagers regularly stayed at McElhinney's house to help mind the children.
  • The first victim said she was left with feelings of self-hatred, and the second has suffered insomnia, anxiety and depression and has been in therapy since 2017.
  • The women asked that McElhinney be named but did not wish to be named themselves.
Where
The abuse occurred almost entirely at McElhinney's home, where he lived with his wife and young children, and once at a caravan park.
When
The abuse took place between May 1998 and September 2000, and the abuse of the first girl recurred the following summer on about three or four occasions.
Investigation
  • The women reported the abuse to gardaí in 2017, and McElhinney was arrested and interviewed.
  • McElhinney was extradited from Northern Ireland to face the charges, as stated in the case title; the date of extradition is not given.
Charges
McElhinney was charged with sexual assault and rape offences in multiple counts.
In court
  • A Central Criminal Court jury found McElhinney guilty of seven of nine counts following a trial in Monaghan in July 2024.
  • The convictions were three counts of sexual assault, three sample counts of raping the first girl, and one count of sexually assaulting the second girl.
  • McElhinney maintains his innocence, twice sacked his legal team, and represented himself at sentencing without addressing the court in mitigation.
Sentence
Mr Justice Patrick McGrath set a headline sentence of 12 years, reduced to 11 years, in March 2025.
20 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatMcElhinney was 19 years older than his victims, who were aged around 14 and 16 at the time. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMcElhinney regularly crept into the first girl's bed in the night to rape her. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe teenagers regularly stayed in McElhinney's house to help mind the children. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMcElhinney plied the first girl with vodka and bought her cigarettes. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe second complainant was sexually assaulted by McElhinney tweaking her nipple while she was sleeping over to babysit. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMcElhinney has minor previous convictions for a road traffic offence and theft. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMcElhinney maintains his innocence and has twice sacked his legal team. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe first victim said she was left with feelings of self-hatred and hated looking in the mirror. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe second victim suffered from insomnia, anxiety and depression and has been in therapy since 2017. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMcElhinney is separated from his wife and his children are now adults. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe abuse occurred almost entirely in McElhinney's then home where he lived with his wife and young children. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereOn one occasion he raped the first girl at a caravan park. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe abuse occurred between May 1998 and September 2000. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe abuse of the first girl occurred again the following summer on about three or four occasions. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe women went to gardaí in 2017 and McElhinney was arrested and interviewed. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtMcElhinney was found guilty by a Central Criminal Court jury of seven of the nine counts against him. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtHe was found guilty of three counts of sexual assault, three sample counts of raping the first girl, and one count of sexually assaulting the second girl. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtMcElhinney represented himself at sentencing and did not wish to address the court in mitigation. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe women wished for McElhinney to be named but did not wish to be named themselves. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceMr Justice Patrick McGrath set a headline sentence of 12 years, reduced to 11 years. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 11 Mar2025
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Child rapist, 59, jailed as victims tell judge to name him

    Sentencing details: Mr Justice Patrick McGrath set a headline sentence of 12 years reduced to 11, noting the lack of admissions, age disparity, and repeated nature of the offending. McElhinney represented himself, maintains his innocence, and twice sacked his legal team. Both victims gave impact statements and wished for him to be named while remaining anonymous themselves.

    convicted, Andrew Robert John McElhinney, 59, male, named, irish (judged from name)Andrew Robert John McElhinneyvictim, 14, femalevictim, 16, female