Thursday 29 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. 10318Sexual assault · Co. Donegal

Donegal man to have sexual assault charge struck out after paying compensation

A man in his 60s from Donegal was charged with sexual assault over an incident in 2019 involving a woman. The case was before Letterkenny District Court, where it had been adjourned many times, and the judge noted a very early guilty plea had been entered. The man brought €2,000 to offer as compensation. In March 2026, Judge Ciaran Liddy said he would find the facts proven and strike the matter out if the man paid a further €3,000 to the woman by Christmas, making €5,000 in total.

  1. Reported
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A man from Donegal in his 60s was charged with sexual assault against a woman.
  • The solicitor said the man walked up and slapped the woman on the backside, and that the act was an assault with nothing sexual, which differs from the sexual assault charge.
Where
The case was before Letterkenny District Court.
When
The charge relates to an incident in 2019.
In court
  • The matter had been adjourned on many occasions at the District Court.
  • The judge noted a very early guilty plea had been entered.
  • The man brought €2,000 to court to offer as compensation.
Sentence
  • Judge Ciaran Liddy ordered a further €3,000 to be paid to the woman by Christmas, for a total of €5,000.
  • Judge Liddy said he would find the facts proven and strike the matter out once the compensation is paid; one report says the matter was struck out on the basis of the compensation order.
Other details
  • A victim impact statement was submitted but not opened in court.
  • A probation and welfare report assessed the man as low risk of further sexual offending.
  • The man had attended offence-focused work, according to the court.
12 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe solicitor said the man walked up and slapped the woman on the backside. (donegallive.ie)
  • whatThe solicitor said the act was an assault but there was nothing sexual. (donegallive.ie)
  • whereThe case was before Letterkenny District Court. (donegallive.ie)
  • whenThe man was charged over an incident in 2019. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeA Donegal man on a sexual assault charge has been told the matter will be struck out if he pays €5,000 to the complainant. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtThe man brought €2,000 to court to offer as compensation. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtThe matter had been adjourned on many occasions at the District Court. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtThe judge noted a very early guilty plea had been entered. (donegallive.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Liddy ordered a further €3,000 to be paid to the woman by Christmas. (donegallive.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Liddy said he would find the facts proven and strike the matter out. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherA victim impact statement was submitted but not opened in court. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherA probation and welfare report assessed the man as low risk of further sexual offending. (donegallive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 26 Mar2026
    Otherdonegallive.ie, first report
    Donegal man must pay €5,000 to have sexual assault case struck out

    Reports that the man's solicitor described the act as a slap on the backside and said there was nothing sexual. The court heard he had attended offence-focussed work and that a probation report assessed him as low risk. The matter was struck out on the basis of the compensation order.

    accused, 60s, malevictim, female