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. 4034Sexual assault · Co. Dublin · 20 Jan 2026

Five boys arrested over alleged sexual assault of teenage girl in Dublin city centre

Five boys were arrested on 20 January 2026 over an alleged sexual assault on a teenage girl at a premises in Dublin's south inner city, and Gardaí believe six boys were involved. The boys are juveniles in their early to mid-teens, and the alleged attack reportedly happened in the weeks before 22 January 2026, including alleged filming on a mobile phone that was later sent to the victim. Reports dated 22 January said the five were interviewed with a solicitor and guardians present and released without charge pending a file to the DPP. The latest reported position is that all five remain uncharged while the file is with the DPP.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested22 Jan
    2 reports
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Five boys were arrested over an alleged sexual assault on a teenage girl.
  • Gardaí believe six boys were involved, and that at least one of them allegedly subjected the girl to a serious sexual assault.
  • The boys allegedly gave the girl alcohol before the assaults.
  • At least one boy allegedly filmed part of the attack on his mobile phone, and the footage was later sent to the victim.
  • The victim only partially remembers the alleged attack and confided in a family member, who contacted gardaí.
Where
The incident was reported in Dublin city centre, at a premises in the south inner city.
When
  • The alleged attack took place in the weeks before 22 January 2026.
  • The five boys were arrested on Tuesday, 20 January 2026.
Investigation
  • The investigation is led by the Divisional Protective Services Unit.
  • Gardaí obtained a copy of the video, which is a key part of their investigation.
  • The five arrested boys were interviewed in the company of a solicitor and their guardians.
Charges
All five arrested boys were released without charge pending a file to the DPP.
Other details
Everyone involved is a juvenile, aged in their early to mid-teens.
21 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatAt least one of the boys filmed part of the alleged attack on his mobile phone. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe video footage of the attack was later sent to the victim. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe boys allegedly gave the victim alcohol before sexually assaulting her. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatOfficers believe the victim was subjected to a serious sexual assault by at least one boy and that all six boys sexually assaulted her in some way. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe victim had only a hazy memory of the incident. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe victim confided in a family member who then contacted gardai. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatFive boys were arrested in relation to an alleged serious sexual assault on a teenage girl. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe group of males were aged in their early to mid-teens. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe girl was allegedly subject to repeated and serious sexual assaults by some of the male teenagers. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA portion of the assault was videoed by one of the group. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe victim only partially remembers the alleged attack. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe alleged attack took place in Dublin in the weeks before 22 January 2026. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe alleged assault took place at a premises in Dublin's south inner city. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe arrests were made on 20 January 2026. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationFive boys were arrested on 20 January 2026 in connection with the alleged attack. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí obtained a copy of the video and it is forming a key part of their investigations. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe five arrested teens were interviewed in the company of a solicitor and their guardians. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationAll five were released without charge pending a file to the DPP. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe investigation is being led by the Divisional Protective Services Unit. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtAll five arrested persons were released without charge pending a file to the DPP. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherEveryone involved in the incident are juveniles. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 22 Jan2026
    Arrestedirishtimes.com, first report
    Five boys arrested over alleged sexual assault of girl in Dublin city centre

    Initial report of arrests; all five released without charge pending DPP file; video evidence obtained.

    victim, femalesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, male
  2. 22 Jan2026
    Arrestedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Gardai arrest five boys over 'gang sex attack on teenage girl'

    Initial report of the arrests; all five suspects released without charge pending a file to the DPP. The article reveals details about how the attack allegedly unfolded, including the victim being given alcohol and one suspect filming the assault.

    victim, femalesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, male