Thursday 5 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. 30891Sexual assault

Councillor Deirdre Donnelly says she would 'think twice' before reporting sexual assault

Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown councillor Deirdre Donnelly told Liveline she would advise sexual assault victims to 'think twice' before reporting, citing her own negative experience after being sexually assaulted in a hotel. After 22 months, Gardaí told her there was not enough evidence to prosecute the accused.

  1. Reported
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
14 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatShe ran away to her room and tripped, injuring her knee. (extra.ie)
  • whatShe was put in a room with two officers to detail her experience, and they kept interrupting her. (extra.ie)
  • whatAbout a year after making a complaint there was still no word from the DPP. (extra.ie)
  • whatShe was paying €75 a week for counselling for over a year. (extra.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • whatShe was on crutches and going to the hospital for injections to her knee. (extra.ie)
  • whatDeirdre Donnelly is an Independent councillor for Dun Laoghaire. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatA man kept rubbing himself against her in a bar in full view of people. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatThe man followed her into the lift and insisted on going to her hotel room. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatShe went over on her knee while running and sustained long-term permanent damage. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatShe was taken to A&E and was on crutches for some time. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatShe was going to the hospital for injections for some time. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationThe individual was interviewed and shown the CCTV and her statement. (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherShe contacted the Data Protection Commission and learned she had a legal right to the CCTV. (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherShe believes the Irish justice system is not fit for purpose. (dublinlive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 7 Jul2021
    Otherdublinlive.ie, its first report
    RTE listeners horrified as councillor ran away from man in hotel sexual assault

    First public account by Deirdre Donnelly on RTE Liveline, detailing the assault, her permanent knee injury, the 22-month investigation, and the non-prosecution decision.

    victim, Deirdre Donnelly, female, irish (judged from name)Deirdre Donnellysuspect, male
  2. 7 Jul2021
    Otherextra.ie, first report
    'Don't complain, don't report it, just move on' - Councillor says she would 'think twice' before reporting a sexual assault - Extra.ie

    Councillor's personal account of the incident and her criticism of the Gardaí and justice system process, including details of the interview, the 22-month timeline, and the decision not to prosecute.

    victim, Deirdre Donnelly, female, irish (judged from name)Deirdre Donnellysuspect, male