Ireland Denis O’Donovan appeals conviction for sexual assault of woman in Limerick
On 17 January 2020 a woman was pulled into the car of Denis O'Donovan, a 39-year-old man, and taken to a nearby lane in Limerick, where he sexually assaulted and choked her. The woman escaped and called 999 after getting home. O'Donovan, who had 39 previous convictions and was on bail at the time, was convicted of false imprisonment, assault causing harm and two counts of sexual assault, and in June 2024 was sentenced at Limerick Circuit Court to seven years in prison with six months suspended. On 10 March 2026 he appealed the conviction at the Court of Appeal, arguing the 999 call should not have been played to the jury, and the court reserved judgment.
- Reported
- Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A woman was pulled into Denis O'Donovan's car and taken to a nearby lane, where he sexually assaulted and choked her.
- Where
- Articles say he took the woman from her own home, while the key facts say she was pulled into his car.
- The woman's house was in a rural area of Limerick.
- When
- The incident happened on 17 January 2020.
- Investigation
- The woman called 999 after escaping and getting home, and the call lasted 40 minutes.
- Charges
- O'Donovan was convicted of false imprisonment, assault causing harm and two counts of sexual assault.
- Other details
- O'Donovan was 39 years old and had 39 previous convictions.
- O'Donovan was on bail at the time of the incident for an aggravated burglary at another woman's house.
- In court
- O'Donovan appealed his conviction at the Court of Appeal.
- The defence argued the judge erred in allowing the entire 999 call to be played to the jury.
- The Court of Appeal heard the appeal on 10 March 2026 and reserved judgment.
- Sentence
- In June 2024 O'Donovan was sentenced by Judge Dermot Sheehan at Limerick Circuit Court to seven years in prison with six months suspended.
10 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe woman was pulled into O’Donovan’s car and taken to a nearby lane, where he sexually assaulted her and choked her. (limerickleader.ie)
- whereThe woman's house was in a rural area of Limerick. (limerickleader.ie)
- whenThe incident happened on January 17, 2020. (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationThe woman called 999 after escaping and getting home. (limerickleader.ie)
- chargeO’Donovan was convicted of false imprisonment, assault causing harm and two counts of sexual assault. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtO’Donovan launched an appeal against his conviction at the Court of Appeal. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtThe defence argued the judge erred in allowing the entire 999 call to be played to the jury. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtThe Court of Appeal reserved judgment to deliver its decision later. (limerickleader.ie)
- sentenceO’Donovan was sentenced to seven years in prison with six months suspended at Limerick Circuit Court in June 2024. (limerickleader.ie)
- otherO’Donovan had 39 previous convictions and was on bail at the time for an aggravated burglary at another woman’s house. (limerickleader.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 10 Mar2026Man described as ‘dangerous sexual predator’ by Limerick victim appeals conviction
Reports the Court of Appeal hearing on O’Donovan’s appeal against conviction, which he was sentenced for at Limerick Circuit Court in June 2024. Judgment was reserved.
convicted, Denis O'Donovan, 39, male, named, irish (judged from name)Denis O'Donovanvictim, female