Ireland High Court adjourns Garda sergeant's dismissal challenge after Dublin sexual assault
On 2 March 2020, a young woman alleged that Garda sergeant Cathal Middleton, 42, got into her bed while she was asleep at a house in Lucan, Dublin, following a social event, and that the outside of his right thigh touched her fully clothed buttock. Middleton was found guilty of one count of sexual assault at Blanchardstown District Court in October 2022 and sentenced on 27 January 2023 to five months in prison and seven years on the sex offenders' register. He immediately lodged an appeal against the conviction and is on bail. In April 2023, he launched a High Court judicial review to prevent the Garda Commissioner's proposal to summarily dismiss him, and Mr Justice Meenan granted permission to bring the challenge before adjourning the matter.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court17 Apr
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced27 Jan
2 reports
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A young woman alleged that a Garda sergeant got into her bed while she was asleep and the outside of his right thigh touched her fully clothed buttock.
- Where
- The incident took place at a house on Fforster Square in Lucan, Dublin.
- When
- The sexual assault took place on 2 March 2020, following a social event.
- Charges
- Cathal Middleton was charged with one count of sexual assault under Section 2 of the Criminal Law (Rape) Amendment Act 1990.
- In court
- He was found guilty at Blanchardstown District Court in October 2022.
- He immediately lodged an appeal against the conviction and is on bail.
- He launched a High Court judicial review to prevent the Garda Commissioner's proposal to summarily dismiss him, and Mr Justice Meenan granted permission on an ex-parte basis before adjourning the matter.
- Sentence
- He was sentenced to five months in prison and directed to be placed on the sex offenders' register for seven years on 27 January 2023.
- Other details
- The Garda Commissioner proposed to summarily dismiss him citing discreditable conduct.
- He has been on suspension from duty since June 2020.
- The assault occurred two years after he was promoted from garda to sergeant.
25 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA Garda sergeant was convicted of sexually assaulting a young woman. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe woman was asleep when the sergeant got into her bed after a night out. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe woman alleged that the outside of his right thigh touched her fully clothed buttock. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe assault took place at a house following a social event. (rte.ie)
- whereThe incident happened at an address in Lucan. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe sexual assault took place on 2 March 2020. (rte.ie)
- whenThe offence happened on 2 March 2020, after a night-out. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe incident happened on 2 March 2020. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeSgt Middleton was found guilty at Blanchardstown District Court of one count of sexual assault. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe sentencing was carried out by Judge David McHugh at Blanchardstown District Court. (rte.ie)
- courtHe immediately lodged an appeal and is currently on bail. (rte.ie)
- courtHe has appealed the conviction. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe High Court judge gave the sergeant permission to bring his challenge, and the matter was adjourned. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe sergeant denied ever getting into the bed with the woman. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtSergeant Middleton was found guilty of one count of sexual assault at Blanchardstown District Court in October 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtHe has launched a High Court judicial review to prevent his dismissal. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtMr Justice Charles Meenan granted him permission to bring the challenge on an ex-parte basis, and the matter was adjourned. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceHe was sentenced to five months in prison. (rte.ie)
- sentenceHe was directed to be placed on the sex offenders' register for seven years. (rte.ie)
- sentenceHe was jailed for five months by the District Court judge. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe assault occurred two years after he was promoted from garda to sergeant. (rte.ie)
- otherThe Garda Press Office confirmed a male garda in the Dublin region was suspended from duty in June 2020. (rte.ie)
- otherHe is currently on suspension from duty. (rte.ie)
- otherThe Garda Commissioner proposed to dismiss the sergeant from An Garda Síochána. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe Garda Commissioner proposed summarily dismissing him, citing discreditable conduct. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 17 Apr2023Garda sergeant convicted of sex assault on woman appeals dismissal from force
Covers the sergeant's High Court judicial review of the Garda Commissioner's proposal to dismiss him, which followed his conviction and jail sentence; the article also gives the incident date, location, the denial, and the appeal of the conviction.
convicted, Cathal Middleton, 42, male, named, irish (judged from name)Cathal Middletonvictim, female - 17 Apr2023Garda convicted of sexual assault seeks to prevent dismissal
Reports a High Court judicial review by the convicted sergeant seeking to stop his dismissal from An Garda Síochána. The article says he has appealed the conviction and that the case was adjourned after the judge gave him permission to bring the challenge.
convicted, Cathal Middleton, 42, male, named, irish (judged from name)Cathal Middletonvictim, female - 27 Jan2023Serving garda sergeant sentenced over sexual assault
Reports the sentencing: five months' imprisonment, seven years on the sex offenders' register, immediate appeal lodged, and Garda Press Office confirmation of his suspension in June 2020.
victim, femaleconvicted, Cathal Middleton, 42, male, named, irish (judged from name)Cathal Middleton