Ireland Case No. 5360Sexual assault; false imprisonment · Co. Wicklow · 29 Sep 2020
Garda found guilty of sexual assault and false imprisonment of woman at Aughrim Garda Station
On 29 September 2020, a woman went to Aughrim Garda Station, Main Street, Aughrim, Co Wicklow, to seek advice about getting her son's car back, and the garda William Ryan, aged 41, was the only garda stationed there. Ryan was charged with three counts of sexual assault and one count of false imprisonment, and he pleaded not guilty. On 26 July 2024, a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court returned unanimous guilty verdicts on all four counts after about three and a half hours of deliberations. The judge remanded Ryan in custody until his sentence date of 7 October.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Convicted26 Jul
2 reports - Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A garda was found guilty of sexually assaulting and falsely imprisoning a woman in a Co Wicklow garda station.
- The State's case was that Ryan prevented the woman from leaving the station and sexually assaulted her three times.
- The woman said Ryan slapped her bottom and groped her breast at the station, then took her upstairs, masturbated in front of her and digitally penetrated her vagina.
- Where
- The offences took place at Aughrim Garda Station, Main Street, Aughrim, Co Wicklow.
- When
- The offences took place on 29 September 2020.
- Cause
- The woman had gone to the station for advice about retrieving her son's car, which had been seized in Co Carlow the previous day.
- Investigation
- When gardaí visited Ryan's home about a month after the alleged offences, he first told them nothing happened.
- Charges
- Ryan pleaded not guilty to three counts of sexual assault and one count of false imprisonment.
- In court
- On 26 July 2024, a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court returned unanimous guilty verdicts after about three and a half hours of deliberations.
- Prosecution counsel described Ryan's account of a highly charged sexual encounter as implausible and incredible.
- The judge remanded Ryan in custody until the sentence date.
- Sentence
- The sentence date was set for 7 October.
- Other details
- Ryan had been the only garda stationed at Aughrim since 2013.
- Ryan was suspended from duty pending the outcome of the criminal proceedings.
18 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA garda was found guilty of sexually assaulting and falsely imprisoning a woman in a Co Wicklow garda station. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whatThe State's case was that Ryan prevented the complainant from leaving the station and sexually assaulted her three times. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe woman said Ryan sexually assaulted her twice at the station by slapping her bottom and groping her breast. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe woman said Ryan then took her upstairs, masturbated in front of her and digitally penetrated her vagina. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe prosecution case was that Ryan prevented the woman from leaving the station and sexually assaulted her three times. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe offences took place at Aughrim Garda Station, Main Street, Aughrim, Co Wicklow. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe offences took place at Aughrim Garda station in Co Wicklow. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe offences took place on September 29, 2020. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- investigationRyan first told gardaí nothing happened when they visited his home about a month after the alleged offence. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeRyan had pleaded not guilty to three counts of sexual assault and one count of false imprisonment. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court returned unanimous guilty verdicts after about three and a half hours of deliberations. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe judge remanded Ryan in custody until the sentence date. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts after about three and a half hours of deliberations. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge set a sentence date of October 7th and remanded Ryan in custody until then. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe judge set a sentence date of October 7. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherRyan had been the only garda stationed at Aughrim since 2013. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- otherRyan had been suspended from duty pending the outcome of the criminal proceedings. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- otherThe woman had gone to the station for advice about retrieving her son's car, which had been seized in Co Carlow the previous day. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 26 Jul2024Garda found guilty of sexually assaulting and falsely imprisoning a woman in Wicklow garda station
Reports the jury verdicts of guilty on three counts of sexual assault and one count of false imprisonment, Ryan's remand in custody, and the sentence date of October 7th. No existing case in the list matches this incident.
convicted, William Ryan, 41, male, named, irish (judged from name)William Ryanvictim, female - 26 Jul2024Garda sobs as he's found guilty of sex assault and false imprisonment of woman
Reports the jury's unanimous guilty verdicts after the trial and the sentencing date of 7 October; the defendant was remanded in custody.
convicted, William Ryan, 41, male, named, irish (judged from name)William Ryanvictim, female