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. 7422Rape · Co. Dublin · 8 Dec 2018

Four men on trial for rape and sexual assault in Dublin

In December 2018, a 19-year-old woman was allegedly raped and sexually assaulted at her home in a neighbouring county after inviting one of four men to stay, who arrived with three others just after 11pm. The four men, aged 23 to 25, were charged with rape, oral rape and sexual assault, and all pleaded not guilty. DNA evidence was found linking three of the four accused to the scene. The four men went on trial at the Central Criminal Court in October 2023, with the trial expected to last four weeks.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court6 Oct
    3 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Four men are on trial charged with the rape and sexual assault of a 19-year-old woman at her home.
  • The woman invited one of the men to her home, and he arrived with three others just after 11pm; they left about an hour and a half later.
Where
The alleged offences took place at the woman's home in a neighbouring county; the four accused have addresses in Dublin.
When
The alleged offences occurred between 8 and 9 December 2018.
Investigation
  • After the men left, the woman and a friend contacted gardaí, and the woman was taken to a Sexual Assault Treatment Unit.
  • The prosecution said the first accused's DNA was found on a duvet cover and sheet, the second accused's DNA on a swab from the woman, and the fourth accused's DNA on swabs from the woman and on a condom.
Charges
  • The first accused, aged 25, is charged with oral rape and sexual assault; the second, aged 25, with rape and sexual assault; the third, aged 23, with two counts of rape, oral rape and sexual assault; the fourth, aged 24, with two counts of rape and sexual assault.
  • All four accused pleaded not guilty to all charges.
In court
  • The trial is before Mr Justice Keane and a jury of six men and six women at the Central Criminal Court, prosecuted by Anne Rowland SC.
  • The trial is expected to last four weeks.
Other details
Reporting restrictions apply to the identity of all participants in the trial.
37 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatFour men have gone on trial charged with the rape and sexual assault of a 19-year-old woman in her home. (rte.ie)
  • whatFour men went on trial at the Central Criminal Court accused of raping a woman at her home. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe alleged offences took place at the woman's home in a neighbouring county. (rte.ie)
  • whereThe alleged offences took place at the woman's home. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereThe alleged offences occurred at the woman's home. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe complainant was 19 years old in December 2018. (rte.ie)
  • whenThe men left the house about an hour and a half after they arrived. (rte.ie)
  • whenThe alleged offences took place between 8 and 9 December 2018. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe alleged offences occurred between 8 and 9 December 2018. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe woman contacted a friend, who contacted gardaí. (rte.ie)
  • investigationDNA matching three of the four accused was found on swabs from the complainant or on bed sheets from her room. (rte.ie)
  • investigationThe woman called a friend, and together they contacted gardaí after the men left. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationDNA samples were taken from the four accused men after swabs were analysed. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationAfter the men left, the woman and a friend contacted gardaí, and the woman was taken to a Sexual Assault Treatment Unit. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationDNA samples were taken from the four accused men. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe first accused, aged 25, is charged with oral rape of the woman. (rte.ie)
  • chargeThe second accused, aged 25, is charged with one count of rape. (rte.ie)
  • chargeThe third accused, aged 23, is charged with oral rape and two counts of rape. (rte.ie)
  • chargeThe fourth accused, aged 24, is charged with rape. (rte.ie)
  • chargeAll four are also charged with sexual assault. (rte.ie)
  • chargeThe first accused, aged 25, pleaded not guilty to oral rape and sexual assault. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe second accused, aged 25, pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe third accused, aged 23, pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape, one oral rape and a sexual assault. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe fourth accused, aged 24, pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape and a sexual assault. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe first accused pleaded not guilty to oral rape and sexual assault. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe second accused pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe third accused pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape, one oral rape and a sexual assault. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe fourth accused pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape and a sexual assault. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe Central Criminal Court heard that the trial is expected to last four weeks. (rte.ie)
  • courtFour men went on trial at the Central Criminal Court. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe trial will continue before Mr Justice Keane and a jury of six men and six women on Monday. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • courtAnne Rowland SC prosecuted the case. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherAll four accused deny all the charges. (rte.ie)
  • otherReporting restrictions apply to the identity of all participants in the trial. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe prosecution said the first accused's DNA was found on a duvet cover and sheet. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe second accused's DNA was found on a swab from the woman. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe fourth accused's DNA was found on swabs from the woman and on the condom. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 6 Oct2023
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Four men go on trial for rape of 19-year-old woman

    Reports the opening of a trial at the Central Criminal Court, including the four accused's pleas, the prosecution's opening account and evidence, and the trial's next steps.

    accused, 25, maleaccused, 25, maleaccused, 23, maleaccused, 24, malevictim, 19, female
  2. 6 Oct2023
    In courtthejournal.ie, first report
    Four men go on trial at Central Criminal Court accused of raping woman at her home five years ago

    Trial opening at the Central Criminal Court: the four accused's ages and pleas, the prosecution's opening account, and the reporting restrictions. No earlier article on this case is in the list.

    victim, 19, femaleaccused, 25, maleaccused, 25, maleaccused, 23, maleaccused, 24, male
  3. 6 Oct2023
    In courtrte.ie, first report
    Four men go on trial for rape of woman in 2018

    First report of the trial opening: four accused, their ages, the charges against each, the alleged sequence of events, DNA evidence and the expected length of the trial.

    victim, 19, femaleaccused, 25, maleaccused, 25, maleaccused, 23, maleaccused, 24, male