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. 0776Female genital mutilation · Co. Dublin · 16 Sep 2016

Couple's FGM convictions quashed and declared miscarriage of justice

A husband and wife from a French-speaking region of Africa were convicted in November 2019 of the female genital mutilation of their one-year-old daughter at a Dublin address in September 2016, becoming the first people convicted of the charge in the history of the State. After spending two years in prison, a 2023 retrial ended when the jury failed to reach an agreement and the DPP dropped the charges. In December 2023, Swedish FGM expert Prof Birgitta Essen examined the child and found she had never been subjected to the procedure. In June 2026, the Court of Appeal quashed the convictions and declared a miscarriage of justice, finding the couple factually innocent on the balance of probabilities.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Acquitted19 Jun
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
A one-year-old girl was alleged to have been subjected to female genital mutilation.
Where
The alleged FGM took place at a Dublin address.
When
The alleged FGM took place on 16 September 2016.
Other details
  • The suspects were a husband and wife originally from a French-speaking region of Africa.
  • The couple spent two years in prison.
  • The trial was the first FGM trial in Ireland and was the subject of an RTÉ documentary.
In court
  • A Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury found the couple guilty in November 2019, making them the first people convicted of the FGM charge in the history of the State.
  • At a 2023 retrial the jury failed to reach an agreement and the DPP dropped the charges.
  • The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, quashed the convictions and declared a miscarriage of justice in June 2026.
  • The court found the applicants factually innocent on the balance of probabilities and granted a certificate under S9(1)(a) of the Criminal Procedure Act 1993.
Investigation
An examination by Swedish FGM expert Prof Birgitta Essen in December 2023 found the child had never been subjected to the procedure.
13 statements extracted from the articles
  • whenThe alleged FGM took place at a Dublin address on 16 September 2016. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationAn examination by Swedish FGM expert Prof Birgitta Essen in December 2023 proved the child had never been subjected to the procedure. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe couple's FGM convictions were quashed and declared a miscarriage of justice by the Court of Appeal. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtMr Justice Patrick McCarthy found newly discovered facts in expert reports showed a miscarriage of justice. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe court found the applicants factually innocent on the balance of probabilities. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtA certificate was granted under S9(1)(a) of the Criminal Procedure Act 1993. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtA Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury found them guilty in November 2019. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtBoth the husband and wife had pleaded not guilty. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtA jury at the 2023 retrial failed to reach an agreement and the DPP dropped the charges. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe couple spent two years in prison. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherTheir trial was the first FGM trial in Ireland and was the subject of an RTÉ documentary. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe couple were the first people convicted of the FGM charge in the history of the State. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe couple are originally from a French-speaking region of Africa. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 19 Jun2026
    Acquittedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Couple jailed over female genital mutilation of girl have convictions quashed

    The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, granted a certificate under S9(1)(a) of the Criminal Procedure Act 1993 declaring the couple factually innocent, based on a 2023 examination by Swedish FGM expert Prof Birgitta Essen and a State-commissioned report that broadly agreed with her findings.

    convicted, male, non-irish (judged from name)convicted, female, non-irish (judged from name)victim, 1, female