Farmer Thomas Nyhan found guilty of raping a man on two occasions
Thomas Nyhan, 64, from Crookstown, Co Cork, was unanimously found guilty by a jury on 9 May 2025 of anally raping a man on two occasions, in January 2011 and April 2019. The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, alleged Nyhan raped him at his home after telling him he could not have sex with his wife in 2011, and again in his bedroom after a shopping trip and meal in April 2019. The allegations surfaced when the victim disclosed them to his GP in April 2019, after which Gardaí conducted separate interviews; Nyhan accepted some sexual activity had occurred but denied rape. Following an 11-day trial at the Central Criminal Court, sitting in Limerick, before Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring, Nyhan was remanded on bail for sentencing on 23 June 2025.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court29 Apr
3 reports - Convicted9 May
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Thomas Nyhan, 64, from Crookstown, Co Cork, was unanimously found guilty by a jury of anally raping a man on two occasions.
- The victim alleged Nyhan told him he could not have sex with his wife and then anally raped him on 6 January 2011 at the victim's home.
- The victim alleged Nyhan anally raped him in his bedroom on the evening of 7 April 2019 after the two men went shopping and had a meal.
- Where
- The alleged rapes took place at a location in Munster, with the 2019 incident alleged to be in County Limerick.
- When
- The allegations surfaced in April 2019 when the victim made a disclosure to his GP.
- Investigation
- Gardaí conducted separate interviews with the victim and the accused; when questioned in May 2019, Nyhan accepted some sexual activity had occurred but denied rape.
- Charges
- Nyhan was charged with two counts of anal rape and one count of engaging in a sexual act with a protected person who lacked the capacity to consent.
- In court
- The 11-day trial was heard before Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring at the Central Criminal Court, sitting in Limerick.
- The jury retired on 8 May 2025 and returned a unanimous guilty verdict on 9 May 2025.
- Sentence
- Nyhan was remanded on bail for sentencing on 23 June 2025.
- Other details
- The victim cannot be named for legal reasons; Ms Justice Ring ordered no details be reported that might identify him.
- Nyhan is a married farmer and father of four.
33 statements extracted from the articles
- whatAt the alleged victim's home, the accused told him he needed to do some exercises and removed his underwear. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe complainant alleged he was anally raped by the accused in 2011 and in 2019 in County Limerick. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatOn 6 January 2011, the accused told the complainant he couldn't have sex with his wife and then raped him. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe complainant alleged he was anally raped again between 7 and 8 April 2019. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatOn the evening of 7 April 2019, the complainant and the accused went shopping and had a meal. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatAfter the accused dropped the complainant home, he raped him in his bedroom. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe complainant said the accused violated him and took everything from him when he came into his house and forced himself on him. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe complainant said he felt so dirty and that the accused took him when he was at his lowest and thought it was funny. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe complainant also alleged he was raped on numerous occasions between 1974 and 1985 by two men, including his deceased relative, which did not involve the accused. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe complainant was tied up and injected with cattle hormones before being raped by his deceased relative. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe accused accepted in Garda interviews that some sexual activity had occurred between the two men. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe complainant agreed he remained in regular contact with the accused for eight years after the first alleged rape. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatNyhan was unanimously found guilty by a jury of raping a man on two separate occasions. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe alleged sex acts were revealed when the alleged victim made a disclosure to his GP in April 2019. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe alleged victim further alleged the accused anally raped him again on April 7, 2019. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe complainant first disclosed the alleged rape during a GP appointment in April 2019. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe accused denied raping the man on January 6, 2011, and April 8, 2019. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe allegations surfaced in April 2019 after the complainant made a disclosure to his GP after the second alleged rape. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí were alerted and conducted separate interviews with the alleged victim and the accused. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationWhen questioned by gardaí in May 2019, Nyhan accepted some sexual activity had occurred but denied raping the victim. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe accused pleaded not guilty to three offences including two counts of anally raping the alleged victim and one count of engaging in a sexual act with a protective person who lacked capacity to consent. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThe accused denies two counts of anal rape and engaging in a sexual act with a protected person who lacked the capacity to consent. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeNyhan was charged with two counts of anal rape at a location in Munster in January 2011 and April 2019. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial is before Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring and is due to last up to two weeks. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe trial is before a jury and Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring at the Central Criminal Court, sitting in Limerick. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe jury retired on Thursday to consider its verdict at the Central Criminal Court, sitting in Limerick City. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtMs Justice Mary Ellen Ring lifted reporting restrictions and ordered no details be reported that might identify the victim. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe accused cannot be named for legal reasons. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe accused is a married farmer. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherNone of the parties involved in the proceedings can be identified for legal reasons. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe rape allegations surfaced when the victim told his GP following the second rape. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe victim agreed he had remained in regular contact with Nyhan following the first rape in 2011. (irishtimes.com)
- otherNyhan claimed the victim asked him for €150 cash for sex and had removed his own pants and underpants. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 9 May2025Farmer (64) found guilty of raping a man on two occasions
Jury verdict returned after 11-day trial; reporting restrictions lifted by Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring; remanded on bail for sentencing 23 June 2025.
accused, 64, male, irish (judged from name)victim, male - 8 May2025Married farmer accused of rape of farmhand to learn fate
Reports the cross-examination of the complainant by senior counsel Mark Nicholas and the jury retiring to consider its verdict on 8 May 2025. The complainant described the pain as 'like barbed wire' and 'like hell, like something burning you,' and denied defence claims that he asked for money for sex or grabbed the accused's crotch.
victim, maleaccused, male - 30 Apr2025'He violated me.' Married farmer accused of rape of farmhand after shopping trip
Trial evidence detailing the complainant's account of both alleged rapes, the accused's partial admission of sexual activity, the complainant's history of alleged abuse by other men, and the issue of the complainant's intellectual capacity.
accused, malevictim, male - 29 Apr2025Farmer accused of rape of farmhand after saying he can't have sex with his wife
Reports the prosecution's opening statement at the trial, including details of both alleged rapes, the €150 cash left on a radiator, and the accused's interview in which he accepted some sexual activity occurred but denied rape.
victim, maleaccused, male