Wednesday 28 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. 5992Rape and sexual assault · Co. Limerick

Former scout leader jailed for rape and sexual assault of his cousins, Limerick

A 61-year-old former scout leader from Limerick was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury last February of raping his young cousin and sexually assaulting her two teenage sisters. The rape and indecent assaults on the cousin took place in her home between 1979 and 1981, when she was aged six to eight, and the sexual assaults on the sisters took place between May and September 1991. The sisters reported the abuse to gardaí in 2019, and the man, who pleaded not guilty and continues to deny the offences, was sentenced in April 2024. The judge set a headline sentence of 12 years for the rape, imposed eight years, and ordered consecutive terms for the sexual assaults, giving a total of 9½ years with the final two years suspended; the Irish Times opening line reports 7½ years instead.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced29 Apr
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
A 61-year-old former scout leader from Limerick was convicted of raping his young cousin and sexually assaulting her two teenage sisters.
Where
The rape and indecent assaults on the cousin took place in her home.
When
  • The offences against the cousin took place between 1979 and 1981, when she was aged between six and eight and the man was between 15½ and 18.
  • The sexual assaults on the two sisters took place between May and September 1991, when the sisters were teenagers and the man was in his mid-20s.
Investigation
The women reported the abuse to gardaí in 2019.
Charges
He was convicted of two counts of indecent assault and one count of rape against the cousin, and of one count of sexual assault against each sister.
In court
He was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury last February after an eight-day trial, having pleaded not guilty to a number of offences.
Sentence
  • The judge set a headline sentence of 12 years for the rape and imposed a sentence of eight years for it.
  • The sexual assault terms were ordered to run consecutively to the rape term, giving a total sentence of 9½ years, with the final two years suspended.
  • The Irish Times opening line gives a total sentence of 7½ years, while the body and key facts give 9½ years, and the difference is not explained.
Other details
  • The man continues to deny carrying out the offences.
  • He persuaded the sisters' parents to let the two other victims go on a charity scout fundraising trip with him.
13 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA former scout leader raped his young cousin and later sexually assaulted her two teenage sisters. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe rape and indecent assaults took place in the victim's home between 1979 and 1981, when she was aged between six and eight. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe sexual assaults on the two sisters took place between May and September 1991. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe women reported the abuse to gardaí in 2019. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeHe was convicted of two counts of indecent assault and one count of rape against one sister. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeHe was convicted of one count of sexual assault against each of the other two sisters. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe accused was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury last February after an eight-day trial. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of 12 years for the rape. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe judge imposed a sentence of eight years for the rape. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe judge ordered the sexual assault terms to run consecutively to the rape term, giving a total sentence of 9½ years. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe final two years of the total term were suspended. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe accused continues to deny carrying out the offences. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe accused convinced the sisters' parents to let the two other victims go on a charity scout fundraising trip with him. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 29 Apr2024
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Former scout leader jailed for rape and sexual assault of his cousins

    Sentencing report for a historic case. The article gives a total sentence of 7½ years in its opening line and 9½ years in the body, and does not explain the difference.

    convicted, 61, malevictim, femalevictim, femalevictim, female