Wednesday 28 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. 1439Child welfare (special care order) · Co. Dublin · 26 Jun 2025

High Court orders 13-year-old girl in special care moved to different unit

On 26 June 2025, Mr Justice John Jordan in the High Court ordered a 13-year-old girl in special care in Dublin to be moved to a different unit, against the recommendations of her guardian ad litem, citing very significant issues with another child in her current unit. The girl has had more than 200 incidents involving gardaí and a history of drug use, sexual exploitation and severe neglect, and all 16 special care beds are currently occupied, requiring another child to be moved to make space. Separately, a woman is giving evidence at the Central Criminal Court before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon, alleging she was sexually assaulted by her mother and raped by her uncle and a family friend between 2000 and 2014. The three defendants, who cannot be named for legal reasons, face a total of 21 counts and have all pleaded not guilty.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court26 Jun
    2 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • The complainant told the court she was sexually assaulted by her mother and raped by her uncle and a family friend as a child, with incidents occurring between 2000 and 2014.
  • A 13-year-old girl in special care has had more than 200 incidents involving gardaí and a history of drug use, sexual exploitation and severe neglect.
Where
The alleged sexual incidents mainly occurred at the family home within the State, and the court proceedings took place in Dublin.
When
The alleged incidents occurred between 2000 and 2014, and the High Court special care order was made on 26 June 2025.
Investigation
The complainant made a statement to Gardaí but did not initially disclose the alleged sexual abuse, and went to Gardaí some years later after moving to another part of the country and attending a rape crisis centre.
Charges
The mother faces 13 counts of sexual assault and one count of rape, the uncle faces five counts of rape and one count of oral rape, and the third man faces one count of oral rape; all three pleaded not guilty.
In court
The trial is at the Central Criminal Court before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury, and the special care order was made by Mr Justice John Jordan in the High Court against the recommendations of the girl's guardian ad litem.
Other details
The three defendants cannot be named for legal reasons, all 16 special care beds are occupied, and a child in the unit to which the girl will move must also be moved to make space.
29 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe complainant told the court she was sexually assaulted by her mother and raped by her uncle and a family friend as a child. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe complainant spent her early childhood living with her mother, uncle and three other adult relatives. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe adults in the house all had issues with alcohol. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe mother allegedly sexually assaulted the complainant again when she was 15. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe uncle allegedly raped the complainant when she was about five and a half. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe uncle allegedly orally raped the complainant in his bedroom on one occasion. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe uncle allegedly raped the complainant in her bedroom when she was in her early teens. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe complainant described bleeding very heavily at about 12 and believed it was a miscarriage. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe complainant moved in with family friends when she was 17. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe girl is 13 years old and has had more than 200 incidents involving gardaí. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe girl has a history of drug use, sexual exploitation and severe neglect. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe girl was detained in secure care earlier this year. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatBoth of the girl's parents were in prison at the time of her first special care placement. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatAll 16 available special care beds are occupied. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA child in the unit to which the girl will move must also be moved to make space. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA significant incident involving a serious assault has gone to the DPP. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe incidents mainly occurred at the family home within the State. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe alleged incidents occurred on dates between 2000 and 2014. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe complainant was three and a half when her mother first sexually assaulted her. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe complainant made a statement to Gardaí but did not tell them about the alleged sexual abuse. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe complainant went to Gardaí some years later after moving to another part of the country and attending a rape crisis centre. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeAll three defendants pleaded not guilty to all charges. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeThe mother faces 13 counts of sexual assault and one count of rape for facilitating the rape of her daughter by her brother. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeThe uncle faces five counts of rape and one count of oral rape. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeThe third man faces one count of oral rape. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe trial is at the Central Criminal Court before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe order was made against the recommendations of her guardian ad litem. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtMr Justice John Jordan made the order. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe three defendants cannot be named for legal reasons. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 27 Jun2025
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Court hears 13-year-old girl with history of drug use and sexual exploitation needs to switch care unit

    Reports on the High Court hearing where Mr Justice John Jordan ordered the girl's transfer from her special care unit and a linked move of another child to free up a bed.

    victim, 13, female
  2. 26 Jun2025
    In courtirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Woman allegedly raped by mum, uncle & other man said abuse began at 3 years old

    First day of the complainant's evidence at trial; she described abuse beginning at age three and a half and continuing to age 15, with cross-examination by defence counsel.

    victim, femaleaccused, 50s, femaleaccused, 40s, maleaccused, 50s, male