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. 6788Sexual assault and attempted rape · Co. Dublin

Former judge convicted of sexual assault and attempted rape to receive full pension

Gerard O'Brien, a 59-year-old man, was convicted of sexual assault and attempted rape against six men abused while he was a teacher at CBS Monkstown secondary school in Dublin between 1991 and 1997. He was paid his judge's salary for 30 months after being charged. He resigned from the Circuit Court bench on 5 January 2024, days after Justice Minister Helen McEntee said she had sought the Attorney General's advice on his position. Reports on 14 January 2024 said he would be eligible for his full pension from age 65 despite resigning, with no legal mechanism to prevent it, and he is due to be sentenced on 4 March.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Convicted14 Jan
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Gerard O'Brien, a 59-year-old man, was convicted of sexually abusing six men.
  • The offences included sexual assault and attempted rape.
Where
The abuse happened while O'Brien worked as a teacher at CBS Monkstown secondary school in Dublin.
When
The abuse took place between 1991 and 1997.
Charges
O'Brien was paid his judge's salary for 30 months after he was charged.
In court
O'Brien resigned from the Circuit Court bench on 5 January 2024, days after Justice Minister Helen McEntee said she had sought the Attorney General's advice on his position.
Other details
  • O'Brien will be eligible to claim his full pension from age 65, based on his judge's salary of €178,000, despite his resignation.
  • There is no legal mechanism in place to prevent O'Brien from receiving his pension.
  • O'Brien has not yet indicated whether he will appeal his conviction.
Sentence
O'Brien is due to be sentenced on 4 March.
12 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGerard O’Brien was convicted of sexually abusing six men. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe offences included sexual assault and attempted rape. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe abuse happened while O’Brien worked as a teacher at a Dublin secondary school. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereO’Brien was formerly a teacher at CBS Monkstown secondary school in Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe abuse took place between 1991 and 1997. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeO’Brien was paid his judge’s salary for 30 months after he was charged. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtO’Brien resigned from the Circuit Court bench on January 5, 2024. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceO’Brien is due to be sentenced on 4 March. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherO’Brien resigned days after Justice Minister Helen McEntee said she had sought the Attorney General’s advice on his position. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherO’Brien will be eligible to claim his full pension on his judge’s salary of €178,000 despite his resignation. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThere is no legal mechanism in place to prevent O’Brien from receiving his pension. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherO’Brien has not yet indicated whether he will appeal his conviction. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 14 Jan2024
    Convictedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Judge convicted of sexual assault and attempted rape will still get full pension

    Reports that the convicted former judge will receive a full judicial pension, that he resigned on 5 January 2024, and that he is due to be sentenced on 4 March. Gives details of the offending and the pay he received after being charged.

    convicted, Gerard O'Brien, 59, male, named, irish (judged from name)Gerard O'Brienvictim, male