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. 4960Sexual assault · Co. Wicklow

Co Wicklow man jailed for grooming and sexually assaulting teenage girl

Fergus Delaney, 61, was jailed for grooming and sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl in 2000 and 2001. He pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to four charges, and the court imposed six years with the final six months suspended.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced15 Oct
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
10 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatFergus Delaney pleaded guilty to four charges of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatDelaney kissed the girl, touched her breasts and genitals, and got her to touch him. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe offences took place in various locations close to where the two lived. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe offences took place between 2000 and 2001 over an eight-month period. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceDelaney was jailed for 5½ years for grooming and sexually assaulting a teenage girl. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe judge imposed consecutive sentences totalling six years and suspended the final six months on conditions including engaging with the Probation Service for two years. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe judge said Delaney deliberately groomed a young teenager over an eight-month period. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe judge accepted that Delaney had no relevant previous convictions. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe victim said the abuse had a devastating effect on her life and she left school because of it. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherIn interview with gardaí, Delaney suggested the girl had seduced him. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 15 Oct2024
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    ‘I was a walking target’: Co Wicklow man jailed for grooming and sexually assaulting teenage girl

    Sentencing report for a historical sexual assault case. Article reports the defendant pleaded guilty, the victim impact statement, and the judge's remarks. No earlier matching case in the list.

    suspect, Fergus Delaney, 61, male, named, irish (judged from name)Fergus Delaneyvictim, 14, female