Ireland Case No. 13304Defilement and sexual assault · Co. Donegal
Donegal man jailed for sexual abuse of two teenage girls
Martin Friel, 47, of Ballymichael, Fanad, was sentenced to nine and a half years in prison, with the last 12 months suspended, for sexual offences against two girls committed in Donegal between 2014 and 2016. He had pleaded guilty to one charge of defilement and one of sexual assault against one victim, and seven counts of sexual assault against another.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced2 Jul
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports20 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA Fanad man was jailed for a series of sexual offences against two young girls. (donegallive.ie)
- whereThe offences were committed in Donegal between 2014 and 2016. (donegallive.ie)
- whereSome incidents happened on Friel's farm and in his jeep. (donegallive.ie)
- investigationOne victim made a complaint to gardaí in December 2016. (donegallive.ie)
- investigationFriel was arrested, taken to Milford Garda Station for questioning, interviewed three times and denied all allegations. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeFriel pleaded guilty to one charge of defilement and one of sexual assault against one victim aged 12 to 14 when the offending occurred. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeFriel pleaded guilty to seven counts of sexual assault against another victim who was 16 at the time. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeFriel initially faced 26 charges and entered guilty pleas on a full facts basis on a scheduled trial date. (donegallive.ie)
- courtFriel voluntarily went into custody on June 20 at a sentencing hearing before Judge John Aylmer. (donegallive.ie)
- courtThe judge said aggravating factors included the victims' ages and that some offences occurred in the victims' own home, which was a gross breach of trust. (donegallive.ie)
- courtThe judge said the guilty plea was valuable because the complainants could suffer greatly at going through a trial. (donegallive.ie)
- sentenceFriel was sentenced to nine and a half years for the four most serious counts of sexual assault against the first complainant. (donegallive.ie)
- sentenceFriel was sentenced to three years and six months for the other three counts against the first complainant. (donegallive.ie)
- sentenceFriel was sentenced to five years for the defilement of the second complainant and four years for the sexual assault of that victim. (donegallive.ie)
- sentenceThe sentences are to run concurrently. (donegallive.ie)
- sentenceThe last 12 months of the nine-and-a-half-year sentence were suspended on condition of a bond to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for 12 months after release. (donegallive.ie)
- sentenceFriel was to go under Probation Service supervision after completing his prison sentence. (donegallive.ie)
- sentenceFriel was sentenced at Cavan Circuit Court to nine and a half years in prison, with the last 12 months suspended. (donegallive.ie)
- otherGarda evidence stated there were 211 text messages between Friel and one victim over a three-month period. (donegallive.ie)
- otherFriel has six previous convictions, including for assault, criminal damage and public order matters. (donegallive.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 2 Jul2025'Gross breach of trust': Donegal man jailed for sexual abuse of teenage girls
Reports the sentencing of Martin Friel at a Circuit Court sitting, including the sentence breakdown, the judge's aggravating and mitigating factors, the victims' impact statements, and details of the offending and garda investigation.
convicted, Martin Friel, 47, male, named, irish (judged from name)Martin Frielvictim, 12 to 14 at the time of offending, femalevictim, 16 at the time of offending, female