Case No. 2769Rape, sexual assault · Co. Wicklow
Former priest Denis Nolan's additional jail term halved on appeal
Denis Nolan, 71, a former priest, had his additional five-year sentence for the rape and sexual assault of a schoolboy between 1994 and 2000 reduced to two and a half years by the Court of Appeal, which found the trial judge's application of the totality principle was insufficient.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced10 Dec
2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports24 statements extracted from the articles
- whatDenis Nolan, 71, is a former priest from The Presbytery, Rathnew, Co Wicklow (irishtimes.com)
- whatNolan was aged between 42 and 48 at the time of the offending (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe victim was between 11 and 17 years old at the time (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe abuse included inappropriate touching, fondling, masturbation and oral rape (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- whatNolan has been in custody since 2014 (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- whatDenis Nolan is 71 and formerly of The Presbytery, Rathnew, Co Wicklow (irishmirror.ie)
- whatNolan invited the boy to earn money by carrying out gardening work (irishmirror.ie)
- whatIn the first incident, Nolan touched the boy's thigh in the sitting room of the parochial house (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe offending occurred at locations in Dublin and Wicklow (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe offending took place at locations in Dublin and Wicklow (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe offending took place on dates between 1994 and 2000 (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe offending occurred on dates between 1994 and 2000 (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe complainant first encountered Nolan in the summer of 1994 when he was in sixth class (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeNolan pleaded guilty to one count of oral rape and 36 counts of sexual assault (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe Court of Appeal quashed the five-year sentence and resentenced Nolan to two and a half years (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceNolan was serving three sentences totalling 19 years for sexual offending against three other complainants (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe additional five-year term gave an anticipated release date of March 2032 (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceMr Justice Paul McDermott set a headline sentence of eight years but reduced it to five years to run consecutive (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceNolan received concurrent sentences of three years on the sexual assault charges (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceNolan was directed to undergo five years post-release supervision (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceMr Justice Paul McDermott set a headline sentence of eight years for the rape charge but reduced it to five years consecutive (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe Court of Appeal nominated a headline sentence of 12 years with a one-third discount leaving eight years (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe eight-year term was adjusted downwards by five and a half years to two and a half years (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe adjusted overall sentence is 21 and a half years with the add-on to commence from when the 19-year sentence finishes (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 11 Dec2024Former priest who sexually abused multiple boys has most recent jail term halved
Court of Appeal quashed the five-year consecutive sentence imposed by Mr Justice Paul McDermott and re-sentenced Nolan to two and a half years, adjusting his overall term to 21.5 years.
convicted, Denis Nolan, 71, male, named, irish (judged from name)Denis Nolanvictim, 11-17, male - 10 Dec2024Former priest who raped and sexually abused young boys has latest jail term halved on appeal
Court of Appeal quashed the five-year consecutive sentence imposed by Mr Justice Paul McDermott and resentenced Nolan to two and a half years, finding the trial judge's totality adjustment was 'somewhat insufficient.' Adjusted overall sentence is 21.5 years.
convicted, Denis Nolan, 71, male, named, irish (judged from name)Denis Nolanvictim, 11-17, male