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. 9287Indecent assault and attempted rape · Co. Dublin

Former sports coach's trial over alleged abuse of four girls continues at Central Criminal Court

A man, 77, a former sports coach, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin before Mr Justice Mícheál O'Higgins and a jury, charged with 78 indecent assaults and one attempted rape against four girls, aged eight to 15, in a number of locations within the state between 1971 and 1981. Reports on 23 June 2026 described the start of the trial, when he pleaded guilty to five counts relating to one complainant and not guilty to the remaining counts. Later evidence came from schoolfriends of the first complainant, from the second complainant by videolink from abroad, and from the third complainant, who said she was 12 when an attempted rape occurred at a 1975 summer camp where he was her coach. On 29 June 2026 the prosecution closed its case and the jury was sent home until Tuesday afternoon, with the trial expected to last up to three weeks.

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

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A former sports coach is on trial accused of sexually abusing four girls in the 1970s and 1980s.
  • The man is charged with 78 indecent assaults and one attempted rape.
  • The prosecution says the abuse included kissing, inappropriate touching, digital penetration, forced oral sex and, for one complainant, attempted rape.
Where
The alleged offences took place in a number of locations within the state, and the third complainant said the attempted rape happened at a summer camp where the man had a coaching role.
When
  • The alleged offences took place on dates between 1971 and 1981, when the complainants were aged between eight and 15.
  • The third complainant said she was 12 years old when the alleged attempted rape occurred at a 1975 summer camp.
Investigation
  • The first complainant went to gardaí about the alleged abuse in 2020.
  • A garda sergeant from the sexual crime management unit took statements from the complainants between 2021 and 2022.
Charges
  • The man pleaded guilty to five counts of indecently assaulting one complainant between May and September 1976.
  • The man pleaded not guilty to 73 counts of indecently assaulting the four complainants between 1971 and 1981 and to one count of attempted rape in 1976.
Other details
  • When charged, the man told gardaí he had never heard of two of the complainants, and said he never heard of the fourth complainant when that charge was put to him.
  • The defence accused one complainant of lying about the alleged abuse and suggested she was never given a lift by the man at all.
In court
  • The trial is before Mr Justice Mícheál O'Higgins and a jury of six men and six women at the Central Criminal Court.
  • The trial heard evidence from two schoolfriends of the first complainant and from the second complainant, who gave evidence by videolink from abroad.
  • The prosecution case closed and the jury was sent home until Tuesday afternoon, with the trial expected to last up to three weeks.
52 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe former sports coach is accused of sexually abusing four children in the 1970s and 1980s. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe accused is accused of 78 indecent assaults and one attempted rape in a number of locations within the state. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe prosecution states the abuse took the form of kissing, inappropriate touching, digital penetration, forced oral sex and, in relation to one complainant, attempted rape. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe accused is charged with 78 indecent assaults and one attempted rape. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe prosecution case is that the abuse included kissing, inappropriate touching, digital penetration, forced oral sex and, for one complainant, attempted rape. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe third complainant alleges that at the summer camp the accused told her to take off her clothes and then attempted to rape her. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe accused is alleged to have committed 78 indecent assaults and one attempted rape. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe accused is accused of sexually abusing four girls in the 1970s and 1980s. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereThe alleged offences took place in several locations within the state. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereThe third complainant said she enrolled in a 1975 summer camp where the accused had a coaching role. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereThe alleged offences took place in a number of locations within the state. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe third complainant alleges an attempted rape occurred during a summer camp in 1975 when she was 12. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe alleged offences were in the 1970s and 1980s. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe alleged offences took place on dates between 1971 and 1981. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe complainants were aged between eight and 15 when the alleged offences occurred. (thejournal.ie)
  • causeThe state's case is that the abuse took the form of kissing, inappropriate touching, digital penetration, forced oral sex and, in relation to one complainant, attempted rape. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationA garda sergeant from the sexual crime management unit took statements from the complainants between 2021 and 2022. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationThe first complainant went to gardaí about the alleged abuse in 2020. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe accused is accused of 78 indecent assaults and one attempted rape. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe accused pleaded not guilty to 73 counts of indecently assaulting the four complainants on dates between 1971 and 1981. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe accused pleaded guilty to five counts of indecently assaulting one of the complainants between May and September 1976. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe accused has pleaded not guilty to one count of attempted rape in 1976. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe accused has pleaded not guilty to 73 counts of indecently assaulting the four complainants and one count of attempted rape. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe accused has pleaded guilty to five counts of indecently assaulting one of the complainants. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe accused has pleaded not guilty to 41 counts of indecently assaulting the third complainant and one count of attempted rape. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe accused has pleaded not guilty to one count of indecently assaulting the fourth complainant. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe accused has pleaded not guilty to 29 counts of indecent assault in relation to the first complainant. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe accused has denied two counts of indecently assaulting the second complainant. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe accused has pleaded not guilty to 73 counts of indecently assaulting the four complainants. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe trial is being heard at the Central Criminal Court. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe prosecution closed its case and the jury was sent home until Tuesday afternoon. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe trial continues before Mr Justice Mícheál O’Higgins. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe trial is being heard at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Mícheál O’Higgins and a jury. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe accused has pleaded not guilty to one count of indecently assaulting a fourth complainant. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe trial is before Mr Justice Mícheál O’Higgins and a jury of six men and six women, and continues on Friday. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe trial heard evidence from two schoolfriends of the first complainant. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe second complainant gave evidence to the court via videolink from abroad. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe trial continues before Mr Justice Micheál O’Higgins and a jury on Thursday. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe trial is taking place at the Central Criminal Court. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe jury has six men and six women. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe accused pleaded guilty to five counts of indecently assaulting one of the girls. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe accused pleaded not guilty to 73 counts of indecently assaulting the four girls and one count of attempted rape. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe trial is expected to last for up to three weeks. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherWhen charged, the accused told gardaí he had never heard of two of the girls. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherWhen the charge relating to the fourth complainant was put to him, the accused said he never heard of her. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe four complainants were aged between eight and 15 when the alleged offences occurred. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe defence accused one complainant of lying about the alleged abuse. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe defence suggested the complainant was never given a lift by the accused at all. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe fourth complainant said the accused did not do nothing, responding that he absolutely did. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe third complainant said the accused was her sports coach. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe third complainant said she was 12 years old at the time of the alleged attempted rape. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe accused cannot be named due to the nature of the charges. (thejournal.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 1 Jun2026
    In courtthejournal.ie, first report
    Former sports coach goes on trial accused of sexually abusing four girls in 1970s and 1980s

    Reports the start of the trial: the prosecution's opening address, the first complainant's evidence, and the guilty plea to five counts. The trial is expected to last up to three weeks.

    accused, 77, malevictim, femalevictim, femalevictim, femalevictim, female
  2. 1 Jun2026
    In courtthejournal.ie, first report
    Trial of former sports coach hears evidence from schoolfriends of woman he indecently assaulted

    Court report on the ongoing trial. Reports evidence from schoolfriends of the first complainant and from the second complainant, who gave evidence by videolink from abroad. The accused has pleaded guilty to five counts and not guilty to the remaining counts.

    accused, 70s, malevictim, femalevictim, femalevictim, femalevictim, female
  3. 1 Jun2026
    In courtthejournal.ie, follow-up
    'I felt disgusting': Woman alleges former sports coach attempted to rape her at summer camp

    Court report on the continuing trial, including the third complainant's evidence about an alleged attempted rape at a 1975 summer camp, earlier evidence from the first two complainants' sister and a sports complex worker, and the accused's pleas on the counts.

    accused, 70s, malevictim, female
  4. 1 Jun2026
    In courtthejournal.ie, follow-up
    Lawyer for former sports coach accuses complainant of lying about alleged abuse

    Trial report from the Central Criminal Court. Covers testimony from the third and fourth complainants and their family members, the defence's cross-examination, and the counts each complainant's case relates to. Identifies the accused as a man in his 70s who cannot be named. Trial continues on Monday.

    accused, 70s, malevictim, femalevictim, femalevictim, femalevictim, female
  5. 1 Jun2026
    In courtthejournal.ie, first report
    Former sports coach told gardaí he 'never heard of' some complainants he allegedly abused

    Trial report on the Central Criminal Court proceedings. The accused pleaded guilty to five counts relating to one complainant and not guilty to the rest. The prosecution case has closed and the trial continues.

    accused, 70s, malevictim, femalevictim, femalevictim, femalevictim, female