Thursday 29 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. 8754Sexual assault

Former accountant jailed for Leaving Cert night sex assault deported

In August 2021, a teenage girl was sexually assaulted in Athlone as she was out celebrating her Leaving Certificate results. Gardaí issued a public appeal for witnesses, arrested Nabil Habbar, a 41-year-old Algerian former accountant, and interviewed him three times. Habbar pleaded guilty and was jailed at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court, where the case had been relisted over his inability to comply with Probation Service supervision, with three years and six months imposed, the final nine months suspended for four years. He was served with an exclusion order barring re-entry until September 2029, and a report dated 3 July 2026 says he has been deported.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced1 Jul
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Former accountant Nabil Habbar pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a teenage girl.
  • The assault happened as the victim was out celebrating her Leaving Certificate results.
Other details
  • The case record lists the victim as a woman, while the articles describe her as a teenage girl.
  • The victim was taken to a sexual assault treatment unit.
  • Habbar had no prior criminal convictions.
  • Habbar brought €1,000 for the victim, which the court ordered be given to a domestic violence charity.
  • Habbar was served with an exclusion order and cannot re-enter the State until September 2029.
  • A report dated 3 July 2026 says Habbar has been deported, with no date or location given.
Where
The assault took place in Athlone.
When
The assault took place in August 2021.
Investigation
Gardaí issued a public appeal for witnesses, arrested Habbar and interviewed him three times.
In court
  • The case was relisted at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court because Habbar could not comply with 12 months of Probation Service supervision after his release.
  • The prosecution sought a variation to Habbar's probation order, and the judge adjourned ruling on it.
Sentence
Habbar was sentenced to three years and six months, with the final nine months suspended for four years.
14 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatHabbar pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting the teen. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatA former accountant was jailed for sexually assaulting a teenage girl as she was out celebrating her Leaving Certificate results. (gript.ie)
  • whereThe assault took place in Athlone. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe assault took place in August 2021. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationGardaí issued a public appeal for witnesses, arrested the accused and interviewed him three times. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe case was relisted at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe prosecution sought a variation to the probation order, and the judge adjourned ruling on it. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceHabbar was sentenced to three years and six months, with the final nine months suspended for four years. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceHe was jailed for sexually assaulting a teenage girl. (gript.ie)
  • otherHabbar was served with an exclusion order and cannot re-enter the State until September 2029. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherHabbar had no prior criminal convictions. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe victim was taken to a sexual assault treatment unit. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherHabbar brought €1,000 for the victim, which the court ordered be given to a domestic violence charity. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherHe has been deported. (gript.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 3 Jul2026
    Sentencedgript.ie, first report
    Accountant jailed for Leaving Cert night sex attack deported - Gript

    Short report on the deportation of a man already jailed for the assault. It adds that he has been deported but gives no date, location, name or court details in the article text.

    convictedvictim, female
  2. 1 Jul2026
    Sentencedthejournal.ie, first report
    Accountant jailed for sexually assaulting teenager on her Leaving Cert results night deported

    Reports that Habbar was served with an exclusion order and cannot re-enter the State until September 2029, and that the prosecution sought a variation to his probation order, with the judge adjourning ruling on it.

    convicted, Nabil Habbar, 41, male, Algerian, named, non-irishNabil Habbarvictim, female