Ireland Case No. 8644Rape and child cruelty · Co. Dublin
Garda acquitted of raping wife but convicted of child cruelty
A 48-year-old serving garda was charged with raping his wife and with child cruelty and assault causing harm against his two daughters, with the alleged offences dating from 2007 to 2024 at two locations in the northwest of the country. He went on trial in the Central Criminal Court at the end of June 2026 and pleaded not guilty to all charges. On 10 July 2026, after more than nine hours of deliberation, the jury acquitted him of raping his wife but found him guilty of all four counts relating to his two daughters, now aged 24 and 17. The judge remanded him on continuing bail, and sentencing is set for 27 July.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Convicted10 Jul
2 reports - Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A garda was acquitted of raping his former wife, described in one report as his wife, but convicted of child cruelty against two of his daughters.
- Where
- The offences took place at two locations in the northwest of the country where the family was living at the relevant times.
- When
- The cruelty offences against the older daughter occurred on unknown dates between 2007 and 2020.
- The assault causing harm against the older daughter occurred between late 2021 and early 2022, after she had turned 18.
- The child cruelty offences against the younger daughter occurred on dates between 2015 and 2024.
- Charges
- He faced two counts of raping his then wife, two counts of child cruelty and one count of assault causing harm against his now 24-year-old daughter, plus one count of child cruelty against his now 17-year-old daughter.
- In court
- The defendant went on trial in the Central Criminal Court at the end of June 2026.
- The jury deliberated for more than nine hours before returning its verdicts on 10 July 2026.
- The jury found him not guilty of the two counts of raping his wife.
- The jury found him guilty of two counts of child cruelty and one count of assault causing harm against his 24-year-old daughter, and of one count of child cruelty against his 17-year-old daughter.
- Sentence
- Mr Justice Sean Gillane remanded the defendant on continuing bail for sentencing on 27 July.
- Other details
- The defendant is 48 years old, pleaded not guilty to all charges and denied them, and has no previous convictions.
- The defendant is a serving garda who has been on suspension since December 2024.
- Victim impact statements will be prepared.
24 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA garda was acquitted of raping his former wife but convicted of child cruelty against two of his children. (rte.ie)
- whatA garda was acquitted of raping his wife but convicted of child cruelty against his two daughters. (donegallive.ie)
- whereThe offences took place at two locations in the northwest of the country, where the family was living at the relevant times. (rte.ie)
- whereThe offending took place at two locations in the north-west of the country where the family was living. (donegallive.ie)
- whenThe cruelty offences against the older daughter occurred on unknown dates between 2007 and 2020. (rte.ie, donegallive.ie)
- whenThe assault causing harm against the older daughter occurred between late 2021 and early 2022, after she had turned 18. (rte.ie)
- whenThe child cruelty against the younger daughter occurred on dates between 2015 and 2024. (rte.ie)
- whenThe child cruelty count against the younger daughter occurred on dates between 2015 and 2024. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeHe was convicted of two counts of child cruelty and one count of assault causing harm against his now 24-year-old daughter. (rte.ie)
- chargeHe was convicted of one count of child cruelty against his now 17-year-old daughter. (rte.ie)
- chargeHe faced two counts of raping his then wife, two counts of child cruelty and one count of assault causing harm against his now 24-year-old daughter, plus one count of child cruelty against his now 17-year-old daughter. (donegallive.ie)
- courtThe jury deliberated for more than nine hours before returning its verdicts. (rte.ie)
- courtThe defendant went on trial in the Central Criminal Court. (donegallive.ie)
- courtThe jury returned its verdicts after more than nine hours of deliberations. (donegallive.ie)
- courtThe jury found him not guilty of the two counts of raping his wife. (donegallive.ie)
- courtThe jury found him guilty of all four counts relating to the two daughters. (donegallive.ie)
- courtThe judge remanded the defendant on continuing bail. (donegallive.ie)
- sentenceMr Justice Sean Gillane remanded the defendant on continuing bail for sentencing on 27 July. (rte.ie)
- sentenceThe matter will return to court for a sentence hearing on July 27. (donegallive.ie)
- otherThe defendant is 48 years old and pleaded not guilty to all charges. (rte.ie)
- otherThe defendant is a serving garda who has been on suspension since December 2024. (rte.ie, donegallive.ie)
- otherThe defendant has no previous convictions. (rte.ie, donegallive.ie)
- otherHe denied all the charges against him. (donegallive.ie)
- otherVictim impact statements will be prepared. (donegallive.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 10 Jul2026Garda acquitted of raping wife but convicted of child cruelty
Reports the jury verdicts in the Central Criminal Court trial: not guilty of raping his wife, guilty of all four counts relating to his two daughters, with sentencing to follow.
convicted, 48, malevictim, femalevictim, 24, femalevictim, 17, female - 10 Jul2026Garda acquitted of raping wife, guilty of child cruelty
Reports the jury verdicts after more than nine hours of deliberation, the convictions and the sentencing date of 27 July. The offences occurred at two unnamed locations in the northwest of the country.
convicted, 48, malevictim, 24, femalevictim, 17, femalevictim, female