Ireland Former priest's suspended sentence overturned and replaced with two-year jail term
Joe Dunne (82), a former priest from Ballycrystal, Geashill, Co Offaly, pleaded guilty to five counts of indecently assaulting a young woman between January and December 1989, when he was a priest. The woman, who had already suffered abuse, was assaulted during several trips when Dunne drove her to the Rape Crisis Centre for counselling. The case came to light in a 2019 investigation after gardaí found letters the woman had written to her bishop about Dunne, and he was later arrested and interviewed. In March 2023 Mr Justice Paul McDermott at the Central Criminal Court sentenced him to four years' imprisonment, wholly suspended. In December 2023 the Court of Appeal overturned that sentence and replaced it with a two-year jail term to be served.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced18 Dec
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Joe Dunne, a former priest, pleaded guilty to five counts of indecently assaulting a young woman.
- Dunne offered to drive the woman to the Rape Crisis Centre for counselling and indecently assaulted her during several trips.
- When
- The offences took place on dates between January and December 1989.
- Where
- The abuse happened in remote and secluded locations.
- Dunne is of Ballycrystal, Geashill, Co Offaly.
- Other details
- The abuse involved considerable violence.
- Dunne has been removed from ministry.
- Investigation
- The case came to light in a 2019 investigation after gardaí found letters the woman had written to her bishop about Dunne.
- Dunne was arrested and interviewed during the later investigation.
- Charges
- Dunne had no previous convictions at the time of his guilty pleas.
- In court
- The three-judge Court of Appeal said the case merited a custodial sentence and that it was not proper to wholly suspend the sentence.
- Sentence
- In March 2023 Mr Justice Paul McDermott at the Central Criminal Court sentenced Dunne to four years' imprisonment, wholly suspended.
- On resentencing, a headline sentence of six years was set, with two years discounted for the guilty pleas and Dunne's personal circumstances.
- Two years of the resentenced term were suspended for two years, leaving a two-year jail term to be served.
13 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA former priest sexually abused a young woman while driving her to the Rape Crisis Centre for counselling. (irishtimes.com)
- whatDunne offered to drive the woman to the Rape Crisis Centre, and he indecently assaulted her during several trips. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe abuse happened in remote and secluded locations and involved considerable violence. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe case came to light in a separate 2019 investigation when gardaí found letters the woman had written to her bishop about Dunne. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationDunne was arrested and interviewed during the later investigation. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeDunne pleaded guilty to five counts of indecently assaulting a young woman between January and December 1989. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe three-judge Court of Appeal was satisfied the case merited a custodial sentence. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe Court of Appeal said it was not proper and appropriate to wholly suspend the sentence. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceIn March 2023 Dunne was sentenced to four years' imprisonment, wholly suspended, by Mr Justice Paul McDermott at the Central Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceOn resentencing, a headline sentence of six years was set and two years were discounted for the guilty pleas and Dunne's personal circumstances. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceTwo years of the sentence were suspended for two years, leaving a two-year jail term to be served. (irishtimes.com)
- otherDunne had no previous convictions at the time of his guilty pleas. (irishtimes.com)
- otherDunne has been removed from ministry. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 18 Dec2023Ex-priest’s fully suspended sentence for violent sexual assaults of vulnerable woman is overturned
Article reports the Court of Appeal resentencing: wholly suspended four-year sentence (March 2023) overturned, with a two-year jail term to be served.
convicted, Joe Dunne, 82, male, named, irish (judged from name)Joe Dunnevictim, female