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. 19444Murder

Gardaí give evidence in Puska murder trial

An Irish man in his 40s, who cannot be identified, is accused of sexual acts with a 16-year-old girl in Dublin between August and December 2010, when he was 27. He denies three charges of defilement of a child. On 18 October 2023 the defence addressed the jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and the judge began directing it. On 19 October the jury began deliberating after an eight-day trial, asked to hear parts of the complainant's evidence again, and stopped for the evening. The jury is due to resume deliberating on its verdicts on 20 October 2023.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court18 Oct
    4 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
A man in his 40s is accused of engaging in sexual acts with a 16-year-old girl when he was 27.
Other details
The man is described in the sources as an Irish celebrity and cannot be identified.
Where
The alleged offences took place at locations in Dublin.
When
The alleged offences took place between August and December 2010.
Charges
The man denies three charges of defilement of a child.
In court
  • The case is before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
  • On 18 October 2023 the defence told the jury the man will never work again if convicted, and the judge began directing the jury.
  • The jury began deliberating on 19 October 2023 after an eight-day trial.
  • The jury deliberated for just over three hours before the judge told them to stop for the evening.
  • The jury will resume deliberating on its verdicts the next day, 20 October 2023, and no verdict has been reported.
Investigation
The jury asked to hear again portions of the complainant's evidence about her meetings with the defendant.
25 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe State alleges the man put his penis in the complainant's mouth on three occasions, once at his workplace and twice at his home. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatA man in his 40s is accused of sexual acts with a 16-year-old girl when he was 27. (rte.ie)
  • whereThe alleged offences took place at locations in Dublin. (thejournal.ie, rte.ie)
  • whenThe alleged offences took place on dates between August and December 2010. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe alleged offences took place between August and December 2010. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe alleged offences were between August and December 2010. (rte.ie)
  • investigationJury members asked to hear again portions of the complainant's evidence about her meetings with the defendant. (rte.ie)
  • chargeThe man pleaded not guilty to three counts of engaging in sexual acts with a child under the age of 17. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe accused is charged with sex acts with a minor. (extra.ie)
  • chargeThe accused has pleaded not guilty to three counts of sexual acts with a child under 17. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe man denies three charges of defilement of a child. (rte.ie)
  • courtDefence counsel Morgan Shelley BL asked the jury to find the man not guilty on all three counts. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe judge began directing the jury, who are expected to begin deliberations the next day. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe judge told the jury they must apply the law that the legal age of consent is 17 regardless of any views they hold. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtDefence counsel told the court that the accused's life hangs in the balance. (extra.ie)
  • courtThe jury has begun deliberations at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe jury deliberated for just over three hours on day eight before the judge told them to stop for the evening. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe jury will return the next day to continue considering the verdicts. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe case is before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe jury began deliberating after an eight-day trial. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe jury will resume deliberating on its verdicts tomorrow. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe complainant was 16 and the man was 27 at the time of the alleged offences. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe defence said the man has a cast-iron alibi for 14 December. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe judge told the jury there is no corroborating evidence and they only have the complainant's word. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe man cannot be identified. (rte.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 19 Oct2023
    In courtrte.ie, first report
    Celebrity trial jury to resume deliberations tomorrow

    Reports that the jury began deliberating after an eight-day trial, will resume tomorrow, and asked to hear again parts of the complainant's evidence about her meetings with the defendant.

    accused, 40s, malevictim, 16, female
  2. 19 Oct2023
    In courtthejournal.ie, first report
    Jury continues deliberations in trial of celebrity accused of defilement of 16-year-old girl

    Reports the jury beginning and continuing deliberations in the trial on day eight, after the judge's charge; the verdicts are still pending.

    accused, 40, malevictim, 16, female
  3. 18 Oct2023
    In courtextra.ie, first report
    Defence Counsel For Irish Celeb Accused Of Sex Acts With Minor Tells Court ‘His Life Hangs In The Balance’

    Only the headline survived. The article body contains page template code and no details of the charges, court or dates.

    accusedvictim
  4. 18 Oct2023
    In courtthejournal.ie, first report
    Irish celebrity accused of defilement 'will never work again if convicted', jury told by defence

    Reports the defence closing speech, the judge's directions to the jury, and that deliberations are expected to begin the next day. Names no one.

    accused, 40, male, Irish, irishvictim, 16, female