Ireland Crime

Court of Appeal dismissed O'Brien's appeal, rejecting arguments that the trial judge's charge was imbalanced, legally incorrect, or that the judge erred in refusing separate trials or in warning the jury about lies not automatically indicating guilt.

Reports the Court of Appeal dismissing O’Brien’s appeal against his conviction; the article also gives background on the offences, his interview, the 2024 sentence and his resignation.

Reports the opening of O'Brien's appeal against conviction at the Court of Appeal, where his counsel raised issues with the trial judge's charge and the State urged the court to uphold the conviction. Judgment was reserved by Judge John Edwards and a three-judge court.

Appeal hearing at the Court of Appeal; three-judge court reserved judgment.

Live report on the Court of Appeal hearing of O’Brien’s appeal against conviction. Adds the appeal arguments, the State’s response and that judgment was reserved. The offences occurred at locations in Dublin between 1991 and 1997 when O’Brien was a teacher at CBC Monkstown. The six victims are not named.

Reports the Court of Appeal hearing on O’Brien’s appeal against conviction, with the grounds of appeal and the State’s response. Judgment was reserved. The article adds that O’Brien was jailed for four years in June 2024.

Sentencing of a former judge after conviction; gives the sentence, offence dates, the victims' link to CBC Monkstown and the mitigation argument.

Reports the sentence (five years and nine months with 21 months suspended), the two-year post-release supervision order, the offence dates (March 1991 to November 1997), the victims' ages, that O'Brien pleaded not guilty, and remarks by Mr Justice Owens on the sentence and his unsuitability for judicial office.

Reports the sentence imposed on O’Brien after his December conviction, including the effective sentence, post-release supervision and registration as a sex offender.

Reports the sentence handed down on 31 May 2024: an effective global sentence of five years and nine months with 21 months suspended, a two-year post-release supervision order, the judge’s remarks on aggravating and mitigating factors, and details of the offences and the defence’s plea for leniency.

Reports the sentencing of Gerard O'Brien, who was convicted at the Central Criminal Court, and gives the sentence, the offence dates and the court's remarks.

Reports the adjournment of O'Brien's sentencing hearing from Wednesday to Friday, and gives the court's provisional view that a custodial sentence will be imposed.

Reports that sentencing moved from Wednesday to Friday, that O’Brien is on bail pending sentence, and that the sentence will involve a custodial element and will not be wholly suspended.

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.

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.

Reports that the judge provisionally intends to impose a custodial sentence, with sentencing to be finalised on 29 May 2024, and gives further background on O’Brien and the victims.

Reports the victim impact statements, prosecution and defence submissions at the sentencing hearing, and that sentencing was adjourned to 29 May.

Sentencing hearing, due March 4, adjourned to April 29 because reports are outstanding. O’Brien was not present in court and remains on continuing bail. He resigned as a circuit court judge in January, having been appointed in 2015.

First report of the sentencing adjournment for a conviction from the December trial; the sentence date moved to 29 April 2024 to allow reports to be completed.

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.

Reports O'Brien's resignation, his eligibility for a judicial pension, and the adjourned sentencing date. Offences occurred at a Co Dublin second-level school.

Reports the resignation of the convicted judge, accepted by the Minister for Justice, and gives the adjourned sentencing date of 4 March. Adds that the offences were committed between 1991 and 1997 while O’Brien was a teacher in Dublin.

Reports that O'Brien was convicted by a jury after a trial that concluded before Christmas, that he resigned with effect from January 5, 2024, and that his sentencing hearing is set for March 4. It also gives his address in Thurles, Co Tipperary, and that he was in his 30s at the time of the offending.

Reports O’Brien’s resignation from the bench, effective January 5th, and gives further details of the trial and conviction on December 22nd. Sentencing is adjourned to March 4th.

Follow-up on the conviction: a survivor calls for the judge's resignation, sentencing is adjourned to March 4th, and the article discusses options if he does not resign. Offences were between 1991 and 1997, and no existing case matches.

Reports political reaction to the conviction. Adds that sentencing is set for March 4th, that the judge may resign before then, that the Judicial Council has no role, and that no judge has been impeached since 1937.

Reports the jury conviction of Gerard O'Brien on six counts of sexual assault, with sentencing set for 4 March and continuing bail. The Minister for Justice has asked the Attorney General to advise on options open to the Government and the Oireachtas, including the removal of judges.

Reports the jury verdict convicting O’Brien at the Central Criminal Court, the charges, his background as a judge and former teacher, and the sex offender register and sentencing details.

Irish Times profile of Judge Gerard O’Brien that reports his criminal conviction, the 1991–1997 timeframe, the 2019 complaints, the 2021 charge, and a ministerial reaction. Most of the article is biographical.

Reports the jury verdict of 22 December 2023 on all nine charges, the offence dates of March 1991 to November 1997, the victims' ages, the sentencing date, that the judge is on the sex offenders register, and a statement from Justice Minister Helen McEntee.

First report of the jury verdict. Sentencing is adjourned to March 4th, and the judge is not remanding O’Brien in custody. No existing case in the list matches this one.

First report of the conviction of Gerard O’Brien, a Circuit Court judge, by a jury at the Central Criminal Court. He is remanded on bail until sentencing and victim impact statements are being prepared.

Adds the jury's verdict on all nine counts after just over seven and a half hours, the sentencing date of 4 March, the complainants' accounts of how they woke to assaults, the accused's initial denial to gardaí later partly reversed, the defence claim that three contacts were consensual, and a statement from Justice Minister Helen McEntee.