Friday 30 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. 15143Defilement of a child under 17 · Co. Donegal

Donegal man found guilty of defilement of 15-year-old girl

The alleged incident took place in 2011 in the south of County Donegal, when the man was 18 and the complainant, a girl, was 15. The man, a Donegal businessman in his 30s who cannot be named for legal reasons, was charged with one count of defilement of a child under 17 and pleaded not guilty. After a three-day trial at Donegal Circuit Court in December 2024, a jury found him guilty by a 10-2 majority. He was remanded on continuing bail, and defence counsel sought a probation and welfare report. He is due to be sentenced in April.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Convicted18 Dec
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
A Donegal businessman was found guilty of defilement by a jury at Donegal Circuit Court.
Where
The alleged incident took place in the south of County Donegal.
When
The alleged incident took place in 2011.
Other details
  • The accused was 18 at the time of the alleged incident, and the complainant was 15.
  • The accused is a man in his 30s who cannot be named for legal reasons.
Cause
The complainant said the accused pushed her into a toilet and closed the door behind them.
Charges
The accused was charged with one count of defilement of a child under 17.
In court
  • The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge.
  • After a three-day trial, a jury of 10 men and two women found the accused guilty by a 10-2 majority.
  • The accused was remanded on continuing bail.
  • Defence counsel sought a probation and welfare report for the accused.
Sentence
The accused is due to be sentenced in April.
10 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA Donegal businessman was found guilty of defilement by a jury at Donegal Circuit Court. (donegallive.ie)
  • whereThe alleged incident took place in the south of County Donegal. (donegallive.ie)
  • whenThe alleged incident took place in 2011. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeThe accused was charged with one count of defilement of a child under 17. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtThe accused pleaded not guilty to the charge. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtThe jury found the accused guilty by a 10-2 majority. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtThe accused was remanded on continuing bail. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtDefence counsel sought a probation and welfare report for the accused. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherThe accused had turned 18 before the alleged incident, while the complainant was 15. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherThe complainant said the accused pushed her into a toilet and closed the door behind them. (donegallive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 18 Dec2024
    Convicteddonegallive.ie, first report
    Donegal businessman found guilty of defiling girl (15)

    Jury verdict of guilty by a 10-2 majority after a three-day trial. The accused was remanded on continuing bail and is due to be sentenced in April. Defence sought a probation and welfare report.

    convicted, 30s, malevictim, 15 at the time of the incident, female