Ireland Father found guilty of sexual assault, rape and attempted rape of daughter
A 39-year-old man, the father of a girl who was 11 at the time of the alleged offences, was charged with 25 counts of sexual assault, oral rape and attempted rape against her. The alleged offences took place at two locations in County Limerick between January 2017 and July 2020, and the trial opened before the Central Criminal Court sitting in Limerick on January 26, 2026. The girl gave evidence on January 28 that she had retracted her original allegations in 2018, and on January 30 the jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts on all 25 counts after a three-day trial. The man was remanded to prison until March 9, when Judge Kerida Naidoo will hear a victim impact statement and impose sentence.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court26 Jan
2 reports - Convicted30 Jan
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A 39-year-old man, the girl's father, was found guilty on 25 counts of sexual assault, oral rape and attempted rape of his daughter.
- Where
- The alleged offences took place at two locations in County Limerick.
- When
- The alleged offences are said to have occurred on dates between January 1 and 31, 2017, and June 20 and July 6, 2020, when the girl was 11.
- Weapon
- In one alleged assault, when the girl was 13, the father is said to have held a knife to her throat.
- Cause
- The girl said her father threatened to kill her "stone dead" if she told anyone about the abuse.
- Investigation
- The girl gave a statement to Gardaí in September 2023 in an interview with specially trained officers, and the court viewed the DVD of it.
- In 2018 the girl retracted her original allegations days after making them, so her mother did not give Gardaí permission to interview her, and she made fresh claims in August 2023.
- Charges
- The man was charged with 25 counts: five of oral rape, two of attempted rape, one of causing a child to watch sexual activity, two of threats to kill and 15 of sexual assault.
- In court
- The trial was heard by the Central Criminal Court sitting in Limerick before Judge Kerida Naidoo and a jury of seven women and five men, and the accused denied all charges.
- The jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict on each of the 25 counts after a three-day trial.
- Sentence
- The man was remanded to prison until March 9, when Judge Kerida Naidoo will hear a victim impact statement and impose sentence.
24 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA father has been found guilty of 25 charges of sexual assault on his daughter. (limerickpost.ie)
- whereThe alleged offences happened at two locations in County Limerick. (limerickpost.ie)
- whereThe trial is being heard before the Central Criminal Court sitting in Limerick. (limerickpost.ie)
- whereThe alleged offences are said to have happened at two locations in County Limerick. (limerickpost.ie)
- whenThe alleged offences are said to have occurred between January 2017 and July 2020, when the girl was 11. (limerickpost.ie)
- whenThe offences took place between January 1 and 31, 2017, when the girl was 11, and between June 20 and July 6, 2020. (limerickpost.ie)
- weaponIn one alleged assault when the girl was 13, the father held a knife to her throat and threatened to kill her. (limerickpost.ie)
- investigationThe girl was interviewed by Gardaí in September 2023. (limerickpost.ie)
- investigationThe girl's mother did not give gardaí permission to interview her in 2018. (limerickpost.ie)
- investigationThe victim gave a statement to gardaí in September 2023, which was viewed by the court on DVD. (limerickpost.ie)
- chargeThe accused faces 25 charges for alleged offences between 2017 and 2020. (limerickpost.ie)
- chargeThe alleged offences include oral rape, attempted rape, causing a child to watch sexual activity, threats to kill and sexual assault. (limerickpost.ie)
- chargeThe charges include five acts of oral rape, two attempted rapes, one count of causing a child to watch sexual activity, two threats to kill and 15 counts of sexual assault. (limerickpost.ie)
- courtThe Central Criminal Court, sitting in Limerick, viewed DVDs of the girl's Garda interview. (limerickpost.ie)
- courtThe accused is denying all charges. (limerickpost.ie)
- courtThe trial continues the next day before Judge Kerida Naidoo and a jury of seven women and five men. (limerickpost.ie)
- courtThe accused man faces 25 charges. (limerickpost.ie)
- courtThe trial continues before Judge Kerida Naidoo. (limerickpost.ie)
- courtThe case was heard before the Central Criminal Court, sitting in Limerick. (limerickpost.ie)
- courtThe accused denied all charges. (limerickpost.ie)
- courtThe jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict on each charge. (limerickpost.ie)
- sentenceThe man was remanded to prison until March 9, when Judge Kerida Naidoo will hear a victim impact statement and impose sentence. (limerickpost.ie)
- otherThe girl said her father held a knife to her throat and threatened to kill her if she told anyone. (limerickpost.ie)
- otherThe alleged victim admitted she had retracted her original allegations. (limerickpost.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 30 Jan2026Father guilty of 25 counts of sex assault, oral rape, and attempted rape of daughter
Reports the jury's unanimous guilty verdicts on 25 counts after a three-day trial, the offence period (2017 and 2020), the denial of all charges, and that sentencing is set for March 9 before Judge Kerida Naidoo.
convicted, 39, malevictim, female - 28 Jan2026Trial hears girl retracted claims father tired to rape her
Trial report: the alleged victim admitted she retracted her original allegations in 2018, made fresh claims in August 2023, and told a foster parent the retraction was made under threat from her father. The accused is denying all 25 charges and the trial continues.
victim, 11, femaleaccused, 39, male - 26 Jan2026Court hears father threatened to kill daughter 'stone dead' if she revealed abuse
Reports the opening of the Central Criminal Court trial in Limerick, including the girl's Garda interview and the charges.
victim, femaleaccused, 39, male