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. 9303Sexual assault · Co. Donegal

Former Donegal teacher jailed for sexually abusing 19 boys

Patrick Sharkey, an 83-year-old former teacher, sexually abused 19 boys aged between seven and 16 in Donegal between 1970 and 1995. Detectives interviewed him on three occasions, and he pleaded guilty to all 132 charges of indecent assault and sexual assault. He was sentenced at Donegal Circuit Court, and reports differ on the length of the sentence, giving six and a half years, nine years and three months, or seven years, with part of the term suspended in the last two. The latest development is the sentencing, reported on 18 June 2026.

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

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
A former teacher sexually abused 19 young boys.
Where
The offences took place in County Donegal.
When
The abuse took place between 1970 and 1995.
Other details
  • The victims were between seven and 16 years old.
  • The judge said the offending involved a significant amount of grooming of the victims.
  • The judge described the offending as a gross breach of trust on all occasions.
  • The article is dated 18 June 2026, while the case record gives 1 June 2026 as the publication date.
  • Patrick Sharkey had previously been given a two-year sentence in Northern Ireland and served one year in prison.
  • Patrick Sharkey recently spent 10 days in hospital for heart and lung conditions.
Investigation
Detectives interviewed Patrick Sharkey on three occasions.
Charges
Patrick Sharkey pleaded guilty to all 132 charges of indecent assault and sexual assault.
In court
Patrick Sharkey was sentenced at Donegal Circuit Court.
Sentence
Sources differ on the sentence: one gives six and a half years in prison for 132 charges, one gives nine years and three months with the final six months suspended, and one gives seven years with the last six months suspended.
13 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA former teacher sexually abused 19 young boys in Donegal and was jailed for six-and-a-half years. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe abuse took place over a period from 1970 to 1995. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationSharkey was interviewed on three occasions by detectives. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeSharkey pleaded guilty to all 132 charges, a mix of indecent assault and sexual assault. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtSharkey was sentenced at Donegal Circuit Court. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceSharkey was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison for a total of 132 charges. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Aylmer reduced the sentence to nine years and three months with the final six months suspended. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Aylmer sentenced Sharkey to seven years in prison with the last six months suspended. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe victims were between seven and 16 years old. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe judge said the offending involved a significant amount of grooming of the victims. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe judge described the offending as a gross breach of trust on all occasions. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherSharkey had previously been given a two-year sentence in Northern Ireland and served one year in prison. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherSharkey recently spent 10 days in hospital due to heart and lung conditions. (thejournal.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 1 Jun2026
    Sentencedthejournal.ie, first report
    Former Donegal teacher who sexually abused 19 boys over 25-year period is jailed

    Report of the sentencing at Donegal Circuit Court. No existing case in the list matches this case.

    victim, maleconvicted, Patrick Sharkey, 83, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick Sharkey