Sunday 1 November 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. 22729Sexual abuse (alleged)

High Court rules Tusla investigation into sexual abuse complaint lacked fair procedures

The High Court ruled that fair procedures were not afforded to a man during a Tusla investigation into a teenage girl's complaint of sexual abuse, and ordered the agency to carry out a new investigation under different social workers.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court23 Jan
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
14 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe girl first made a complaint about the alleged abuse when she was 14 (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe girl first told her mother before being interviewed by a social worker (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe girl made a statement to gardaí (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe man was provided with copies of the girl's statements to gardaí and social workers (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe deciding social workers reached a provisional conclusion that the man posed a potential risk towards children (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe woman declined to make herself available for cross-examination (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe CFA investigation did not start until 2018, by which time the complainant was an adult (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe High Court ruled that fair procedures were not afforded to the man during the Tusla investigation (irishtimes.com)
  • courtMr Justice Alexander Owens ordered the CFA to carry out a new investigation under different social workers (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe DPP decided not to prosecute the man (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe deciding social workers proceeded to make a final determination against the man (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe man's appeal was treated as abandoned (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe man brought High Court judicial review proceedings challenging the decision (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe judge said a person faced with an allegation of sexual abuse must be given an opportunity to test that allegation by putting questions to an adult accuser (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 23 Jan2023
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Tusla’s investigation into girl’s complaint of sexual abuse against man lacked fair procedures

    High Court judicial review ruling that Tusla's investigation into an alleged sexual abuse complaint lacked fair procedures; new investigation ordered under different social workers.

    victim, 14, femalesuspect, male