Saturday 31 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. 20878Sexual assault · Co. Galway · 15 Jul 2018

Galway taxi driver jailed for sexually assaulting sleeping passenger

Chloe Hornibrook, a 31-year-old mother of two, was sexually assaulted while she slept in the back of a taxi driven by Francis Oseghale, after a journey in Galway city in the early hours of Sunday 15 July 2018. Gardaí found the driver via CCTV in the area within a week, and DNA from the driver was found on the victim's breast. Oseghale initially pleaded not guilty but changed his plea to guilty before a trial date in November 2022. On 23 May 2023 the Galway Circuit Court sentenced him to 18 months in prison with a further 18 months under probation, and the victim has said the sentence is not enough.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced31 May
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • The victim, Chloe Hornibrook, fell asleep in the back of the taxi.
  • The driver, Francis Oseghale, sexually assaulted the victim while she slept.
Where
The victim got into the taxi at the rank on Bridge Street in Galway city.
When
The assault took place in the early hours of Sunday 15 July 2018.
Cause
The victim said she was drunk and fell asleep in the taxi.
Investigation
  • The victim told gardaí she remembered the man touching her breast.
  • Gardaí found the driver via CCTV in the area within a week.
  • The key facts state that DNA from the driver was found on the victim's breast.
Charges
  • The driver initially pleaded not guilty.
  • The driver changed his plea to guilty before the November 2022 trial date.
In court
Sentencing took place at a sitting of the Galway Circuit Court on Tuesday 23 May 2023.
Sentence
The driver was sentenced to 18 months in prison with a further 18 months under probation.
Other details
  • The victim waived her right to anonymity to warn women and girls about the attacker.
  • The victim says the sentence is not enough.
11 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe victim fell asleep in the back of the taxi. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe driver sexually assaulted the victim while she slept. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe victim got into the taxi at the rank on Bridge Street. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe assault took place in the early hours of Sunday 15 July 2018. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeThe victim said she was drunk and fell asleep in the taxi. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe victim told gardaí she remembered the man touching her breast. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí found the driver via CCTV in the area within a week. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationDNA from the driver was found on the victim's breast. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeThe driver initially pleaded not guilty but changed his plea to guilty before the November 2022 trial date. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceThe driver was sentenced to 18 months in prison with a further 18 months under probation. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe victim says the sentence is not enough. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 31 May2023
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Galway taxi driver jailed over sexually assaulting sleeping mum

    Reports the 23 May 2023 sentencing, the victim's account and impact statement, and the Garda investigation that led to the conviction.

    victim, Chloe Hornibrook, 31, female, irish (judged from name)Chloe Hornibrookconvicted, Francis Oseghale, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Francis Oseghale