Ireland Case No. 13386Defilement of a child · Co. Donegal
Donegal man jailed for defilement of 15-year-old girl
Donegal haulier Ryan Kerrigan was sentenced to 20 months in prison at Cavan Circuit Court for the defilement of a 15-year-old girl in 2011. A jury at Donegal Circuit Court had found him guilty after a three-day trial.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Convicted11 Jun
- Sentenced25 Jun
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports22 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA Donegal businessman was jailed for the defilement of a teenage girl. (donegallive.ie)
- whatKerrigan grabbed the victim by the arm and pulled her towards a toilet, where sexual intercourse occurred. (donegallive.ie)
- whereKerrigan was found guilty by a jury at Donegal Circuit Court. (donegallive.ie)
- whereKerrigan is a 31-year-old from Shannagh, Laghey. (donegallive.ie)
- whenThe incident happened on the night of 23 December 2011. (donegallive.ie)
- whenThe incident took place in 2011. (donegallive.ie)
- investigationKerrigan was first interviewed by gardaí in 2018. (donegallive.ie)
- investigationThe investigating garda told the court there was a co-accused and an application was made for separate trials. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeKerrigan pleaded not guilty to one count of defilement of a child under 17. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeKerrigan had pleaded not guilty to one count of defilement of a child under 17. (donegallive.ie)
- courtThe jury found Kerrigan guilty by a 10-2 majority after a three-day trial. (donegallive.ie)
- courtKerrigan was found guilty by a jury at Donegal Circuit Court after a three-day trial in December. (donegallive.ie)
- sentenceSentencing is due at Cavan Circuit Court later in the month. (donegallive.ie)
- sentenceRyan Kerrigan was handed a 20-month prison sentence at Cavan Circuit Court. (donegallive.ie)
- sentenceThe judge said Kerrigan was not minded to suspend any portion of the sentence. (donegallive.ie)
- sentenceThe judge said the offence was too serious and too grave. (donegallive.ie)
- otherKerrigan told gardaí there was full consent to the encounter. (donegallive.ie)
- otherThe victim, Delaney Leese, waived her anonymity during a sentencing hearing. (donegallive.ie)
- otherThe victim read an impact statement describing 13 years of pain and suffering. (donegallive.ie)
- otherKerrigan has 17 previous convictions, all for road traffic matters. (donegallive.ie)
- otherThe judge said a significant age difference was an aggravating factor. (donegallive.ie)
- otherThe judge said the impact on the victim was a further aggravating factor. (donegallive.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 25 Jun2025'Too serious, too grave': Donegal businessman jailed for defilement of girl (15)
Sentencing report. Gives the 20-month sentence, the jury verdict, the judge's reasons for refusing to suspend any of it, and the victim's impact statement. Also notes a co-accused and a separate-trials application, without naming anyone.
convicted, Ryan Kerrigan, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)Ryan Kerriganvictim, Delaney Leese, 15, female, irish (judged from name)Delaney Leese - 11 Jun2025Donegal defilement victim felt like ‘rag doll'; man to be sentenced this month
Reports the 10-2 jury verdict, the trial details, the victim's name and impact statement, and that Kerrigan has 17 previous road traffic convictions. Sentencing is still pending in this article.
convicted, Ryan Kerrigan, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)Ryan Kerriganvictim, Delaney Leese, 15, female, irish (judged from name)Delaney Leese