Ireland Case No. 3172Assault causing harm, false imprisonment, making threats to kill · Co. Sligo · 18 Mar 2024
Developer Cathal O'Connor jailed for assault on three boys in Collooney
Cathal O'Connor, 40, was sentenced at Sligo Circuit Criminal Court to five years in prison (three suspended) for assaulting three 13-year-old boys at the Northwest Business Park, Collooney, in March 2024. Former TD Marc MacSharry provided a character testimonial for O'Connor, defending his intervention while expressing concern for the victims' recovery.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced1 May
2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports22 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA 13-year-old girl was made to watch the assault (irishtimes.com)
- whatO'Connor choked the boy until he blacked out (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe assaults lasted 48 minutes (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe victims were subjected to multiple death threats and efforts to intimidate them into silence (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe assault involved repeated punching and kneeing of the three victims. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe assault lasted over 48 minutes. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe boys were subjected to multiple death threats during the assault. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe assaults took place at the Northwest Business Park, Collooney (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe assault took place at the Northwest Business Park, Collooney. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe assaults occurred on 18 March 2024 (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe assault occurred on 18 March 2024. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeO'Connor pleaded guilty to three counts of assault causing harm to three 13-year-old boys (irishtimes.com)
- chargeSix other charges of false imprisonment and making threats to kill were taken into account (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe sentencing took place at Sligo Circuit Criminal Court (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceO'Connor was sentenced to five years in prison with the final three years suspended for six years (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceSimon Cavanagh was sentenced to two and a half years for two counts of falsely imprisoning the boys (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceCavanagh must pay €3,000 to each victim within a year (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceOn a third count of false imprisonment, Cavanagh was directed to be assessed for 240 hours of community service (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceCo-accused Simon Cavanagh received a suspended sentence for falsely imprisoning the boys. (irishtimes.com)
- otherNeither man had previous convictions (irishtimes.com)
- otherMarc MacSharry, former Sligo/Leitrim Fianna Fáil TD, provided a testimonial for O'Connor (irishtimes.com)
- otherMacSharry is now managing director of Pontis Advisory Ltd. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 2 May2026MacSharry defends intervention in case of developer jailed for assault on three boys
Sentencing details, aggravating factors, and MacSharry's character testimonial and public defense of his intervention in the case.
convicted, 40, male, irish (judged from name)convicted, Simon Cavanagh, 39, male, named, irish (judged from name)Simon Cavanaghvictim, 13, malevictim, 13, malevictim, 13, malevictim, 13, female - 1 May2026Property developer jailed for ‘truly shocking’ assaults on three teenage boys
Sentencing of O'Connor and Cavanagh at Sligo Circuit Criminal Court; O'Connor deferred to 1 July 2026 to sort business affairs; Cavanagh's sentence fully suspended.
convicted, 40, male, irish (judged from name)convicted, Simon Cavanagh, 39, male, named, irish (judged from name)Simon Cavanaghvictim, 13, malevictim, 13, malevictim, 13, malevictim, 13, female