Sunday 1 November 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. 23765Sexual assault

Former RTÉ journalist loses appeal in sexual assault case

A former RTÉ journalist lost an appeal in a sexual assault case.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court1 Dec
    2 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
16 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe man was convicted of five counts of indecent assault committed in summer 1978 (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHe was given consecutive sentences of 21 months for each of five counts, totalling eight years and nine months (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe man groomed and abused the boy, including fondling and making the boy masturbate him and give oral sex (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe man was sentenced in February 2019 (irishtimes.com)
  • courtA resentencing hearing will be scheduled before Christmas or the earliest date in January 2023 (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe Supreme Court could not discern that the Circuit Court or Court of Appeal took into account the principle of sentence totality (irishtimes.com)
  • courtA former RTÉ journalist lost an appeal in a sexual assault case. (extra.ie)
  • sentenceThe trial judge suspended the final 21 months of the sentence (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe Court of Appeal extended the suspended portion to 33 months (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe man is a divorced father of one adult daughter (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe man was aged 61 at his sentencing hearing (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe man continued to maintain his innocence (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe man had no other criminal convictions (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe Probation Service viewed him as having a low risk of reoffending (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe modern offence of sexual activity with a child under 15 carries a sentence of up to life imprisonment (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe effective maximum sentence for the offences subject to the appeal was two years each (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 2 Dec2022
    In courtextra.ie, its first report
    Former RTÉ Journalist Loses Appeal Over Sexual Assault case

    Article body text is largely absent; only the headline provides information.

    accused
  2. 1 Dec2022
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Totality of sentences for 1978 indecent assaults not considered by lower courts, Supreme Court finds

    Supreme Court found the lower courts failed to apply the principle of sentence totality; the case is remitted to the Supreme Court for resentencing.

    convicted, 61, malevictim, 11, male