Ireland Former judge convicted of sexually assaulting six males in 1990s to receive custodial sentence
Gerard O'Brien, a 59-year-old man and former Circuit Court judge, was convicted at the Central Criminal Court in December 2023 of one count of attempted anal rape and eight counts of sexual assault against six young males. The offences occurred at locations in Dublin between March 1991 and November 1997, when O'Brien was a teacher at a Co Dublin secondary school and the victims were aged 17 to 24. O'Brien pleaded not guilty and denied the charges, and Insp Jonathan Hayes led the Garda investigation. At a sentencing hearing on 29 April 2024, Mr Justice Alexander Owens said he would impose a sentence with a custodial element, not wholly suspended, on 29 May after considering victim impact statements and reports.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Convicted29 Apr
2 reports - Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Gerard O'Brien, 59, a former Circuit Court judge, was convicted of one count of attempted anal rape and eight counts of sexual assault against six victims.
- The victims were six young males who were sexually assaulted in the 1990s.
- Where
- The offences occurred at locations in Dublin while O'Brien was a teacher at a secondary school in Co Dublin.
- When
- The offences occurred between March 1991 and November 1997.
- Other details
- The victims were aged 17 to 24 at the time, and four of them were O'Brien's students or former students.
- O'Brien was aged 27 to 33 at the time of the offences.
- O'Brien resigned as a Circuit Court judge in January, having been appointed in 2015, and has no previous convictions.
- O'Brien was born with Phocomelia and needs assistance with personal care, which the court considered in relation to prison services.
- O'Brien remains on bail pending sentence.
- Investigation
- Insp Jonathan Hayes led the Garda investigation into the allegations.
- In court
- O'Brien pleaded not guilty to all charges and denied them, and a Central Criminal Court jury convicted him in December 2023.
- Victim impact statements were provided by three survivors, while the judge addressed six survivors at the sentencing hearing.
- At the sentencing hearing on 29 April 2024, the judge asked for a report from the Irish Prison Service on the facilities available to O'Brien.
- Sentence
- The judge said he would impose a custodial sentence that is not wholly suspended, to be finalised on 29 May.
20 statements extracted from the articles
- whatGerard O'Brien was convicted at the Central Criminal Court of one count of attempted anal rape and eight counts of sexual assault in relation to six victims. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA former Circuit Court judge was convicted of sexually assaulting six young males in the 1990s. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe offences occurred at locations in Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe offences occurred while O'Brien was a teacher at a second level school in Co Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe offences occurred between March 1991 and November 1997. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe offences occurred between 1991 and 1997. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationInsp Jonathan Hayes led the Garda investigation into the allegations. (irishtimes.com)
- courtO'Brien pleaded not guilty to all the allegations. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe judge asked for a report from the Irish Prison Service on the facilities available to O'Brien. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtHe was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury last December. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe judge's provisional view is that he will impose a custodial sentence, to be finalised on May 29. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceSentence will be imposed on May 29th and will include a custodial element. (irishtimes.com)
- otherO'Brien was a teacher at a Dublin secondary school and was aged between 27 and 33 at the time. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe victims were aged between 17 and 24 at the time, and four were his students or former students. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherO'Brien resigned as a Circuit Court judge in January, having been appointed in 2015. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherO'Brien has no previous convictions. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherHe was convicted on December 22nd and remains on bail pending sentence. (irishtimes.com)
- otherO'Brien was born without arms and just one leg due to Phocomelia. (irishtimes.com)
- otherO'Brien denied the charges. (irishtimes.com)
- otherVictim impact statements were provided by three survivors. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 29 Apr2024Former judge convicted of sexually assaulting six males during 1990s will get custodial sentence, court told
Sentencing hearing held on Monday; the judge said sentence will be imposed on 29 May and will include a custodial element and not be wholly suspended. Victim impact statements, reports and character references were heard.
convicted, Gerard O'Brien, 59, named, irish (judged from name)Gerard O'Brienvictim, malevictim, malevictim, malevictim, malevictim, malevictim, male - 29 Apr2024Former judge facing custodial sentence for sexual abuse of six young men
Reports the sentencing stage after conviction: the judge's provisional view is a custodial sentence, to be finalised on May 29, and a prison report has been requested.
convicted, Gerard O'Brien, 59, male, named, irish (judged from name)Gerard O'Brien