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. 7014Indecent assault · Co. Dublin

Former scout leader jailed for two years over abuse of boys in 1980s

James Gilleran (70), a former scout leader, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to five counts of indecent assault against three boys aged 11 to 13, with offences between 1983 and 1987 in Dublin. The case came to light in 2021, after a man saw Gilleran on The Late Late Show as a Daffodil Day volunteer for the Irish Cancer Society and contacted gardaí, and the other two men then made complaints. On Tuesday 13 May 2025 Gilleran was jailed for two years, having a previous 1997 conviction for sexually assaulting a boy at a cerebral palsy clinic. The Irish Cancer Society said it was unaware of his previous convictions until the court reports.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced13 May
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Gilleran pleaded guilty to five counts of indecent assault, mainly involving inappropriate touching, against three boys.
  • One boy was taken to a bar and given alcohol, and another was given a glass of cider and asked to touch Gilleran's penis, which he refused.
  • Gilleran took a third boy to the cinema and then to his home at Sundrive Park, where he gave him a can of beer and pornographic magazines and indecently assaulted him.
Other details
  • Gilleran was a scout leader of the 117th Francis Street Scout Group in Dublin in the 1980s and also worked as a sacristan at White Friar Street Church.
  • The judge said the offending was a gross violation of children's bodily integrity, innocence, happiness, trust, childhood and peace of mind.
  • Gilleran wrote letters of apology to the men, who indicated they do not wish to receive them.
  • The Irish Cancer Society said Gilleran had no unsupervised access to children or vulnerable people, was not Garda vetted, and was unaware of his previous convictions until the court reports.
  • Gilleran is from Longford, moved to Dublin at 17, has health issues, and was recently in hospital after a cardiac incident.
Where
One incident took place in the boiler room of White Friar Street Church and another in the kitchen at the Scout Hall in June 1985.
When
The offences took place between 1983 and 1987, when the boys were aged between 11 and 13.
Cause
A man contacted gardaí after seeing Gilleran as a volunteer on The Late Late Show in 2021, and one victim had contacted another complainant before a third came forward.
Investigation
Det Garda Richard Mostyn of the Divisional Protective Services Unit at Kevin Street Garda station gave evidence, and records from Scouting Ireland were obtained.
Sentence
  • Gilleran was jailed for two years on Tuesday 13 May 2025 at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
  • Gilleran has a previous conviction for sexually assaulting a boy at a cerebral palsy clinic, for which he was sentenced to four years in 1997, reduced to two years on appeal.
27 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe abuse primarily involved inappropriate touching. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe boys were aged between 11 and 13 when Gilleran abused them. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatGilleran brought the first boy to a bar before the incident and gave him alcohol. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatGilleran gave the second boy a glass of cider and asked him to touch his penis, but the boy refused. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatGilleran brought the third boy to the cinema then to his home at Sundrive Park, gave him a can of beer and pornographic magazines, and indecently assaulted him. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHe was a scout leader of the 117th Francis Street Scout Group in Dublin during the 1980s. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe boys were aged between 11 and 13 when abused. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHe was a public face of the Irish Cancer Society's Daffodil Day fundraising campaign in 2021. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA man he abused contacted gardaí after seeing Gilleran on The Late Late Show as a volunteer in 2021. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe first incident took place in the boiler room of White Friar Street Church. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe second incident took place in the kitchen at the Scout Hall in June 1985. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationDet Garda Richard Mostyn of the Divisional Protective Services Unit in Kevin Street Garda station gave evidence. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationRecords from Scouting Ireland were obtained as part of the investigation. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeGilleran pleaded guilty to five counts of indecent assault on dates between 1983 and 1987. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeHe pleaded guilty to five counts of indecent assault on dates between 1983 and 1987. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceGilleran was jailed for two years after being convicted of sexually abusing three young boys. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceHe had a previous conviction for sexual assault of a boy in a cerebral palsy clinic, sentenced to four years in 1997, reduced to two years on appeal. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherOne victim contacted another complainant after seeing Gilleran on television, and a third then came forward. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherGilleran has one previous conviction for the sexual assault of a boy in a cerebral palsy clinic, with a four-year sentence in 1997 reduced to two years on appeal. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe judge said the offending constituted a gross violation of children's bodily integrity, innocence, happiness, trust, childhood and peace of mind. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherGilleran was a scout leader of the 117th Francis Street Scout Group between 1983 and 1987 and also worked as a sacristan in White Friar Street Church. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherGilleran wrote letters of apology to the men, who indicated they do not wish to receive them. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherGilleran was from Longford and moved to Dublin when he was 17. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherGilleran has health issues and was recently in hospital for a cardiac incident. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherGilleran was a carer for his long-term partner who passed away seven years ago. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe charity was unaware of his previous convictions until the court reports this week. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 14 May2025
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Convicted sex offender had no unsupervised access to children as ‘Daffodil Day’ volunteer, says charity

    Reports the sentencing and the Irish Cancer Society's response regarding Gilleran's 2021 Daffodil Day volunteer role, including that he was not Garda vetted and the charity was unaware of his previous convictions until the court reports.

    convicted, James Gilleran, 70, male, named, irish (judged from name)James Gilleranvictim, Rory Patchell, male, irish (judged from name)Rory Patchellvictim, Stephen Devlin, male, irish (judged from name)Stephen Devlinvictim, Greg Stafford, male, irish (judged from name)Greg Stafford
  2. 13 May2025
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Man reported former scout leader to gardaí after appearance on Late Late Show

    Reports the sentencing of James Gilleran to two years' imprisonment for five counts of indecent assault on three boys during the 1980s, with details of the incidents, victim impact statements, and mitigating factors.

    victim, Rory Patchell, male, irish (judged from name)Rory Patchellvictim, Stephen Devlin, male, irish (judged from name)Stephen Devlinvictim, Greg Stafford, male, irish (judged from name)Greg Staffordconvicted, James Gilleran, 70, male, named, irish (judged from name)James Gilleran