Friday 30 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. 16973Indecent assault · Co. Donegal

Inishowen man pleads guilty to historic indecent assault of relative

A man in his 50s from Inishowen, who cannot be named to protect the victim's anonymity, was charged with two counts of indecent assault over incidents on a farm in May 1982, when the victim, a man and relative of the accused, was 12 and the accused was 16. The victim first complained to gardaí in June 2016. The accused later pleaded guilty to the historic sex abuse at Letterkenny Circuit Court, as reported on 12 June 2024. At that hearing the judge sought legal information on historic cases, and no sentence has been reported.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court12 Jun
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • The incidents included touching another person's penis, oral sex and simulated sex.
  • The court was told the incidents happened on fewer than four occasions.
Where
  • The incidents took place on a farm, including in a farm shed.
  • The case was heard at Letterkenny Circuit Court, Co Donegal.
When
The incidents happened in the early 1980s, in May 1982, when the victim was 12 and the accused was 16.
Other details
  • The accused is a man in his 50s from Inishowen and is related to the victim.
  • The accused cannot be named to protect the victim's anonymity.
Investigation
The victim first made a complaint to gardaí in June 2016.
Charges
The accused was charged with two counts of indecent assault.
In court
  • The accused pleaded guilty to a historic case of sex abuse, as reported on 12 June 2024.
  • The accused has no previous convictions.
  • The judge sought legal information on historic cases, reportedly on the Court of Appeal's handling of historic child sex abuse cases.
Sentence
No sentence has been reported.
11 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe incidents included touching another person's penis, oral sex and simulating sex. (donegallive.ie)
  • whereThe case was heard at Letterkenny Circuit Court. (donegallive.ie)
  • whereThe abuse took place on a farm, in a farm shed. (donegallive.ie)
  • whenThe incidents happened in the early 1980s, when the victim was 12 and the accused was 16. (donegallive.ie)
  • whenThe charges followed incidents in May 1982. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationThe victim first made a complaint to gardaí in June 2016. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeThe accused was charged with two counts of indecent assault. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtThe accused pleaded guilty to a historic case of sex abuse. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtThe accused has no previous convictions. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtThe judge sought legal information on the Court of Appeal's handling of historic child sex abuse cases. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherThe accused cannot be named to protect the victim's anonymity. (donegallive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 12 Jun2024
    In courtdonegallive.ie, first report
    Inishowen man in court for historic sexual abuse of relative on farm

    First report of this court hearing. The accused pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent assault, the judge sought legal information on historic cases, and no sentence is reported. No existing case matches.

    accused, 50s, malevictim, 12 at the time of the incidents, male