Thursday 29 October 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. 10762Rape and sexual assault (conviction appeal) · Co. Limerick

Former scout leader appeals rape and sexual assault convictions in Limerick

A 63-year-old Limerick man, who cannot be named, was convicted in February 2024 at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Limerick of five of six offences, including rape, against his young cousin and her two teenage sisters. The offences took place in 1979 to 1981 and in May to September 1991, and the women reported them to gardaí in 2019. He was sentenced to seven and a half years by Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo in April 2024. On 27 February 2026 he appealed the convictions, arguing that a purported juror letter and a refused jury discharge made the verdicts unsafe, and judgment was reserved.

  1. Reported
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A 63-year-old former scout leader pleaded not guilty and was convicted of five of six offences, including rape, at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Limerick in February 2024.
  • He was acquitted of one charge of indecent assault.
Where
The offences against the first sister took place in her home.
When
  • The offences against the first sister took place between 1979 and 1981, when she was aged between six and eight.
  • The offences against the two sisters took place between May and September 1991, when they were teenagers.
Investigation
The women reported the abuse to gardaí in 2019.
Charges
  • He was convicted of one count of rape and two counts of indecent assault against one sister.
  • He was convicted of one count of sexual assault against each of two other victims; sources differ on their relationship to him, with the article describing the two other complainants as sisters and one key fact describing them as his two other cousins.
In court
  • He appealed his conviction, and his defence argued that the trial judge erred in refusing to discharge the jury after a complainant used the word rape while giving evidence.
  • His defence also argued that an anonymous letter purporting to be from a juror, sent to his solicitor, makes the verdicts unsafe.
  • The prosecution said a not guilty verdict had been returned on the indecent assault charge, making the complaints on that charge moot.
  • At the appeal hearing, reported on 27 February 2026, the judge said the court would reserve judgment.
Sentence
He was sentenced to seven and a half years by Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo in April 2024.
Other details
The man continues to deny the offences.
15 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA 63-year-old former scout leader was convicted of five of six offences after a trial at the Central Criminal Court in Limerick in February 2024. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whereThe offences against the first sister occurred in her home. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whenThe offences against the first sister occurred between 1979 and 1981, when she was aged between six and eight. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whenThe offences against the two sisters occurred between May and September 1991, when they were teenagers. (limerickleader.ie)
  • investigationThe women reported the abuse to gardaí in 2019. (limerickleader.ie)
  • chargeHe was convicted of one count of rape and two counts of indecent assault against one sister. (limerickleader.ie)
  • chargeHe was convicted of one count of sexual assault against each of his two other cousins. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtHe was acquitted of one charge of indecent assault. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtThe appellant launched an appeal against his conviction. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtDefence counsel argued the trial judge erred in refusing to discharge the jury after a complainant used the word rape while giving evidence. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtDefence counsel argued an anonymous letter purporting to be from a juror makes the verdicts unsafe. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtThe prosecution said a verdict of not guilty had been returned on the indecent assault charge, making the complaints moot. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtThe judge said the court would reserve judgment. (limerickleader.ie)
  • sentenceHe was sentenced to seven and a half years by Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo in April 2024. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherThe man continues to deny the offences. (limerickleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 27 Feb2026
    Otherlimerickleader.ie, first report
    Limerick ex-scout leader who raped young cousin argues purported juror letter makes conviction unsafe

    Reports the appeal hearing against the 2024 convictions and sentence. The appellant argues a juror letter, a jury discharge refusal and the closing speech make the verdicts unsafe. Judgment was reserved.

    convicted, 63, malevictim, femalevictim, femalevictim, female