Ireland Equestrian coach convicted of rape and sexual assault of teenage girl in Co Cork
William Connolly, a 68-year-old man from Grasslands, Rathcoursey, Midleton, Co Cork, was his equestrian coach when the girl was 14, and he abused her at various locations in Co Cork on dates between August and December 2019. The abuse began at the equestrian centre and included assaults in his jeep, sometimes after he gave her Bulmers cider. Sgt Kieran Crowley investigated, and Connolly was charged with three counts of rape, two of oral rape, four of sexual assault and one of exploitation of a child for sexual activity. At the Central Criminal Court in Cork, a jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts on three rape counts, one oral rape count, two sexual assault counts and the exploitation count, as reported on 26 January 2026, after the girl, now in her late teens, had waited almost six years for trial. Connolly, who had denied the charges, was remanded in custody by Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford for sentence on 13 February 2026.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Convicted26 Jan
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- William Connolly, a 68-year-old man, was the equestrian coach of a girl who was 14 at the time.
- Connolly groomed and sexually assaulted the girl over a long period.
- Where
- The abuse took place at various locations in Co Cork and began at the equestrian centre.
- When
- The alleged offences occurred on various dates between August and December 2019.
- Cause
- Connolly sometimes plied the girl with Bulmers cider before sexually assaulting her in his jeep.
- Investigation
- Sgt Kieran Crowley was the investigating officer.
- Charges
- Connolly was charged with three counts of rape, two of oral rape, four of sexual assault and one of exploitation of a child for sexual activity.
- In court
- The trial was held at the Central Criminal Court in Cork.
- The jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts on three counts of rape, one of oral rape, two of sexual assault and the exploitation charge after 11 hours and 55 minutes of deliberation.
- Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford remanded Connolly in custody for sentence on 13 February 2026.
- Sentence
- No sentence had been imposed at the time of the reports.
- Other details
- The girl, now in her late teens, waited almost six years for the trial and gave a victim impact statement.
- Connolly had no previous convictions and made no admissions when arrested beyond accepting he sent inappropriate texts.
- Connolly denied the charges, saying the girl came on to him and that what she said was fantasies and lies.
- According to the sources, Connolly relied on the girl's wish to keep going to the riding school and repeatedly said the pony would be sent away quickly if she told his secret.
16 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe girl was 14 when Connolly was her equestrian coach and he groomed and sexually assaulted her for a long time. (irishtimes.com)
- whatConnolly sexually assaulted the girl in his jeep, sometimes after plying her with Bulmers cider. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe abuse took place at various locations in Co Cork. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe abuse began at the equestrian centre. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe alleged offences occurred on various dates between August and December 2019. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationSgt Kieran Crowley was the investigating officer. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeConnolly faced three counts of rape, two counts of oral rape, four counts of sexual assault, and one count of exploitation of a child for the purpose of sexual activity. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts on all three counts of rape, one count of oral rape, two counts of sexual assault, and the exploitation of a child charge after 11 hours and 55 minutes of deliberation. (irishtimes.com)
- courtMs Justice Siobhan Lankford remanded Connolly in custody for sentence on 13 February. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial was held at the Central Criminal Court in Cork. (irishtimes.com)
- otherConnolly is 68 and lives at Grasslands, Rathcoursey, Midleton, Co Cork. (irishtimes.com)
- otherConnolly had no previous convictions and made no admissions when arrested other than accepting he sent inappropriate texts. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe girl, now in her late teens, waited almost six years for the trial to take place. (irishtimes.com)
- otherConnolly accused the girl of coming on to him and said all she said was fantasies and lies. (irishtimes.com)
- otherConnolly knew the girl would not say anything because she lived to go to the riding school. (irishtimes.com)
- otherConnolly repeatedly mentioned how quickly the pony would go away if she told his secret. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 26 Jan2026Teenage rape victim lay awake wondering if anyone would believe allegations against coach
Reports the unanimous jury verdict, the victim's impact statement, and the judge's remand of Connolly in custody for sentence on 13 February 2026.
victim, late teens, femaleconvicted, William Connolly, 68, male, named, irish (judged from name)William Connolly