Wednesday 28 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. 5586Indecent assault · Co. Donegal

Farmer jailed for indecent assault of young relative in Donegal

In May 1982, a man in his 50s, who was 16 at the time, committed indecent assaults against a 12-year-old relative in a farm shed in Co Donegal. The victim first complained to Gardaí in June 2016. The man, a farmer, was charged with two counts of indecent assault and appeared at Letterkenny Circuit Court. On 27 June 2024 he was jailed for one and a half years, with the final 12 months suspended, and must sign the sex offenders register.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced27 Jun
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • The accused was 16 at the time of the offences and is related to the 12-year-old victim.
  • The incidents included touching another person's penis, oral sex and simulating sex.
Where
The incidents happened in a farm shed on a farm in Co Donegal.
When
The incidents took place in May 1982, on less than four or five occasions.
Investigation
  • The victim first complained to Gardaí in June 2016.
  • When interviewed by Gardaí, the accused claimed he thought it was just young boys growing up and experimenting.
Charges
The man, in his 50s, was charged with two counts of indecent assault.
In court
The man appeared at Letterkenny Circuit Court.
Sentence
  • The judge placed the offences in the mid-range, meriting five years before mitigation, and reduced the sentence to three and a half years, then to two and a half years.
  • The judge suspended the last 12 months, so the man was jailed for one and a half years.
  • On release the accused must sign the sex offenders register and be under the care of probation services for 12 months.
Other details
  • The accused has no previous convictions, and probation services assessed him as a low risk of reoffending.
  • The judge noted that sentences in this jurisdiction are reduced by between one third and a half for offences committed by people aged 15 to 17.
  • The victim started counselling in 2015 to cope with the abuse and has had lifelong feelings of anger and shame.
  • The victim could not bring himself to attend court, despite being offered a video link.
19 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe accused was 16 at the time of the offences. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe victim was 12 at the time and is related to the accused. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe incidents occurred on less than four of five occasions. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe incidents included touching another person's penis, oral sex and simulating sex. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe incidents happened on a farm in a farm shed. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe incidents took place in May 1982. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe victim first made a complaint to Gardaí in June 2016. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe man appeared at Letterkenny Circuit Court charged with two counts of indecent assault. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge placed the offences in the mid-range, meriting five years before mitigation. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge reduced the sentence to three and a half years, then to two and a half years, and suspended the last 12 months, meaning the accused will serve one and a half years. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceThe accused must sign on the sex offenders register and go under the care of probation services for 12 months when released. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe accused claimed he thought it was just young boys growing up and experimenting. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe victim started counselling in 2015 to cope with the abuse. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe accused has no previous convictions. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe judge noted that in this jurisdiction sentences are reduced by between one third and a half when offences are committed by people between 15 and 17. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe judge referred to the 'perverse atmosphere' which adults around the accused had towards matters of a sexual nature. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe probation services placed the accused as a low risk of reoffending. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe victim had feelings of anger and shame all his life and in his 40s started having flashbacks and suicidal feelings. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe victim could not bring himself to be in court despite being offered video link. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 27 Jun2024
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Farmer who thought abuse was 'just young boys growing up' is jailed

    Reports the sentencing of a farmer in his 50s to one and a half years (with 12 months suspended) for two counts of indecent assault committed in May 1982 when he was 16, against a 12-year-old relative.

    convicted, 50s, malevictim, 12, male