Former garda Shane Flanagan jailed for inciting men to rape female colleague
Shane Flanagan, 39, a former garda with an address in Co. Clare, impersonated a female colleague on the Fetlife fetish website and Facebook, engaging in graphic discussions about sexual violence and sharing her address, photos and Strava running route, before inciting two men to rape her in her home between November and December 2020. He pleaded guilty to two counts of inciting rape, six counts of endangering the woman and her daughters between 2018 and 2020, and one count of possession of four images of child sexual abuse material. His home was searched on 17 January 2021, where a phone, laptop and hundreds of images including 219 doctored ones were seized. On 29 July 2025, Ms Justice Eileen Creedon at the Central Criminal Court sentenced him to eight years with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions for three years and recommended he receive appropriate psychiatric care.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced29 Jul
2 reports
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Flanagan impersonated the woman on the Fetlife fetish website and Facebook, engaging in graphic discussions about sexual violence, rape, cannibalism, torture and physical violence, and shared her address, photos of her and her daughters, and Strava screenshots showing her running route.
- He incited two men to rape the woman in her home between November and December 2020.
- Where
- Flanagan has an address in Co. Clare.
- When
- The endangering offences occurred between 2018 and 2020 and the possession of child sexual abuse material was on 7 January 2021.
- Investigation
- His home was searched on 17 January 2021 and a phone, laptop and hundreds of images including 219 doctored ones were seized.
- Charges
- He pleaded guilty to two counts of inciting two men to rape the woman, six counts of endangering the woman and her daughters, and one count of possession of four images of child sexual abuse material.
- In court
- Ms Justice Eileen Creedon sentenced him at the Central Criminal Court on 29 July 2025.
- Sentence
- He was sentenced to eight years with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions for three years.
- Other details
- He has no previous convictions and was recently an inpatient at a psychiatric hospital.
- The judge recommended he receive appropriate psychiatric care, particularly during the initial phase of his sentence.
20 statements extracted from the articles
- whatShane Flanagan, 39, has an address in Co. Clare. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHe impersonated the woman on a fetish website and on Facebook. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHe engaged in graphic online discussions about sexual violence, rape, cannibalism, torture and physical violence. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHe shared the woman's address, photos of her and her daughters, and Strapp screenshots showing her running route. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHe has no previous convictions. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatFlanagan pleaded guilty to two counts of inciting two men to rape the woman between November and December 2020. (irishtimes.com)
- whatFlanagan pleaded guilty to six counts of endangering the woman and her daughters between 2018 and 2020. (irishtimes.com)
- whatFlanagan admitted to one count of possession of four images of child sexual abuse material on 7 January 2021. (irishtimes.com)
- whatFlanagan impersonated the woman on the Fetlife fetish website and Facebook, engaging in graphic discussions about sexual and physical violence, rape, cannibalism and torture. (irishtimes.com)
- whatHundreds of images of the woman, including 219 doctored ones, were found during the search of his home. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe woman and Flanagan were friends with no romantic or sexual history. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationFlanagan's home was searched on 17 January 2021 and items including a phone and laptop were seized. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe pleaded guilty to two counts of inciting two men to rape the woman between November and December 2020. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeHe pleaded guilty to six counts of endangering the woman and her daughters between 2018 and 2020. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtMs Justice Eileen Creedon imposed the sentence at the Central Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe judge agreed to recommend Flanagan receive appropriate psychiatric care, particularly during the initial phase of his sentence. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceHe was sentenced to eight years with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions for three years. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceMs Justice Eileen Creedon imposed a sentence of eight years with the final 12 months suspended for three years on strict conditions. (irishtimes.com)
- otherFlanagan has no previous convictions. (irishtimes.com)
- otherFlanagan was recently an inpatient at a psychiatric hospital. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 29 Jul2025Former garda who impersonated colleague and incited men to come to her home and rape her is jailed
Reports the sentencing of Shane Flanagan, a former garda, who pleaded guilty to inciting two men to rape a female colleague after impersonating her on a fetish website and Facebook, and to endangering her and her daughters.
victim, femaleconvicted, Shane Flanagan, 39, male, named, irish (judged from name)Shane Flanagan - 29 Jul2025Ex-garda who incited men to rape colleague in her home is jailed
Adds detail on the impersonation (fetish website and Facebook), the graphic online discussions, the personal information shared (address, photos, Strava running route), the specific charges and date ranges, the fact he has no previous convictions, and Ms Justice Creedon's sentencing remarks.
victim, femalesuspect, Shane Flanagan, 39, male, named, irish (judged from name)Shane Flanagan