Former football coach Joseph Thorpe remanded pending sentencing for indecent assault of boy over 50 years ago
Joseph Thorpe, 73, a former football coach with a Dublin club, pleaded guilty to one count of indecent assault after sexually assaulting a boy aged 12 to 14 in a caravan during a club trip to Co Kerry between September 1974 and September 1976. The complainant first reported the assault to gardaí in 2017, and Thorpe was approached by investigators in 2019 before pleading guilty at a trial date earlier in 2025. At a sentencing hearing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 18 June 2025, the victim read a statement describing Thorpe as "vile" and a "danger to children", and the case was adjourned one week with Thorpe remanded in custody. Thorpe has five previous convictions, including three for indecently assaulting another teenage boy in the 1980s, for which he received a two-year suspended sentence in 1990.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Convicted18 Jun
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Joseph Thorpe, 73, a former football coach with a Dublin club, pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a boy aged 12 to 14 in a makeshift bed in a caravan during a club trip to Co Kerry.
- When
- The assault occurred on a date between September 1974 and September 1976.
- Where
- Thorpe has an address at Glenbeigh Park, Cabra, Dublin 7, and is currently living on a mobile home site in Co Meath.
- Investigation
- The complainant made an initial complaint to gardaí in 2017, and investigating gardaí approached Thorpe in 2019, who initially agreed to a voluntary interview but later declined following legal advice.
- Charges
- Thorpe pleaded guilty to one count of indecent assault on a trial date earlier in 2025.
- In court
- At a sentencing hearing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 18 June 2025, the victim read a victim-impact statement and the case was adjourned one week with Thorpe remanded in custody.
- Other details
- Thorpe has five previous convictions, including three for indecently assaulting another teenage boy in the 1980s, for which he was given a two-year suspended sentence in 1990.
- The boy told Thorpe to stop during the assault, and two others were sleeping in the same bed with other children in the caravan.
20 statements extracted from the articles
- whatJoseph Thorpe, 73, was a coach with a Dublin club when he sexually assaulted the injured party. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe complainant was aged 12 to 14 at the time of the assault. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThorpe sexually assaulted the teenager in a makeshift bed they were sharing in a caravan. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe boy told Thorpe to stop during the assault. (irishtimes.com)
- whatTwo others were also sleeping in the same bed and other children were in the caravan. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe assault took place during a club trip to Co Kerry. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThorpe has an address at Glenbeigh Park, Cabra, Dublin 7. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThorpe is currently living on a mobile home site in Co Meath. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe assault occurred on a date between September 1974 and September 1976. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe complainant made an initial complaint to gardaí in 2017. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThere was a hiatus in the investigation due to a high volume of murder investigations at Mountjoy Garda station. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationInvestigating gardaí approached Thorpe in 2019. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThorpe initially agreed to a voluntary interview but later declined following legal advice. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThorpe pleaded guilty to one count of indecent assault on a trial date earlier this year. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThorpe was given a two-year suspended sentence in 1990 for the 1980s offences. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThorpe has five previous convictions. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThree of the previous convictions were for indecently assaulting another teenage boy in the 1980s. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThorpe was previously married and is estranged from his adult children. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThorpe was a postal worker but his employment ended due to his previous convictions. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThorpe has complex medical issues being managed on an ongoing basis. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 18 Jun2025Former football coach to be sentenced for indecent assault of boy over 50 years ago
Sentencing hearing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court where the victim read a victim-impact statement, defence counsel Tony McGillicuddy made mitigation submissions, and the case was adjourned one week with Thorpe remanded in custody.
victim, 12 to 14 at the time, maleconvicted, Joseph Thorpe, 73, male, named, irish (judged from name)Joseph Thorpe