Ireland Case No. 6835Sexual assault · Co. Dublin
Judge convicted of sexual assault of six young men resigns from bench
Circuit Court judge Gerard O'Brien, aged 59, was convicted at the Central Criminal Court on December 22 of sexually assaulting six young men aged 17 to 24 between 1991 and 1997, when he worked as a teacher at a second-level school in Co Dublin, and of attempted rape of one of them. He denied the offences and can appeal the conviction or sentence. O'Brien resigned from the bench, effective January 5, and the Minister for Justice accepted the resignation with immediate effect. Sentencing is adjourned to March 4, when victim-impact statements are expected.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Convicted4 Jan
4 reports - Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Circuit Court judge Gerard O'Brien was convicted of sexually assaulting six young men.
- Five complainants said they stayed overnight at O'Brien's residence to help him and woke to find him performing sexual acts on them.
- The sixth complainant said O'Brien sexually assaulted him while bringing him to a pub toilet.
- Charges
- O'Brien was also convicted of attempted rape of one of the six.
- When
- The offences took place on dates between 1991 and 1997.
- Where
- O'Brien worked as a teacher at a second-level school in Co Dublin when the offences occurred.
- Other details
- The six complainants were male and aged between 17 and 24 at the time, and four were pupils or former pupils.
- O'Brien, now 59, has an address in Thurles, Co Tipperary, and denied the offences.
- O'Brien resigned as a Circuit Court judge, effective January 5, and the Minister for Justice accepted it with immediate effect.
- The Judicial Council has no role in the matter because the offences predate its establishment by 30 years.
- Former minister Charles Flanagan said a judge convicted of a sexual offence should not continue to serve in any capacity.
- In court
- O'Brien was convicted at the Central Criminal Court on December 22.
- Investigation
- Minister for Justice Helen McEntee sought the advice of the Attorney General after the conviction.
- Sentence
- Sentencing is adjourned to March 4, when victim-impact statements are expected.
40 statements extracted from the articles
- whatCircuit Court judge Gerard O’Brien was convicted in December of sexually abusing six young men. (irishtimes.com)
- whatO’Brien was convicted of sexually assaulting six young men. (irishtimes.com)
- whatCircuit Court Judge Gerard O’Brien was convicted of sexually assaulting six males. (irishtimes.com)
- whatFive complainants said they stayed overnight at O’Brien’s residence to assist him and woke to find him performing sexual acts on them. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe sixth complainant said O’Brien sexually assaulted him while bringing him to the toilet in a pub. (irishtimes.com)
- whatO’Brien was found guilty in December of sex attacks on six young men aged 17 to 24. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe judge worked as a schoolteacher in Dublin at the time of the offences. (irishtimes.com)
- whereO’Brien worked as a teacher at a second-level school in Co Dublin when the offences occurred. (irishtimes.com)
- whereO’Brien was working as a teacher at a Dublin secondary school at the time of the offences. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe abuse took place between 1991 and 1997. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe offences occurred between 1991 and 1997. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe conviction was on December 22nd. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe offences occurred on dates between 1991 and 1997. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe offences took place on dates between 1991 and 1997. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeO’Brien was also convicted of attempted rape of one of the six. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeO’Brien was also convicted of attempted rape of one of his six victims. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtO’Brien was convicted on December 22nd. (irishtimes.com)
- courtJustice Alexander Owens adjourned the sentence to March 4 after the conviction on December 22. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe sentencing hearing will take place on March 4th. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceSentence was adjourned to March 4th, when victim-impact statements are expected. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceMr Justice Alexander Owens adjourned sentencing to March 4th. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceSentencing is adjourned to 4 March. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherFormer minister Charles Flanagan said a judge convicted of a sexual offence should not continue to serve in any capacity. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe judge lives in Co Tipperary and may resign before sentencing. (irishtimes.com)
- otherNo impeachment of a judge has occurred since the Constitution came into force in 1937. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe Judicial Council has no role in the matter because the offences predate its establishment by 30 years. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMinister for Justice Helen McEntee said she would consult the Attorney General on the matter. (irishtimes.com)
- otherFour of the complainants were pupils or former pupils. (irishtimes.com)
- otherO’Brien denied the offences and can appeal his conviction or sentence. (irishtimes.com)
- otherA survivor told The Irish Times he believed the judge should resign. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe Minister for Justice described the cases as appalling cases of sexual assault. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe Judicial Council declined to comment because the matter is before the courts. (irishtimes.com)
- otherO’Brien’s resignation was effective from January 5th. (irishtimes.com)
- otherFour complainants were pupils or former pupils. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe victims were aged between 17 and 24. (irishtimes.com)
- otherO’Brien was born without arms and with just one leg. (irishtimes.com)
- otherVictim-impact statements are expected to be heard at sentencing. (irishtimes.com)
- otherO’Brien conveyed his resignation as a Circuit Court judge, effective from 5 January. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe Minister accepted O’Brien’s resignation with immediate effect. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe Minister had sought the advice of the Attorney General after the conviction. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 7 Jan2024Judge who sexually assaulted six young men has quit the bench
Reports the resignation of the convicted judge, accepted by the Minister for Justice, and gives the adjourned sentencing date of 4 March. Adds that the offences were committed between 1991 and 1997 while O’Brien was a teacher in Dublin.
convicted, Gerard O'Brien, 59, named, irish (judged from name)Gerard O'Brienvictim, 17 to 24, male - 6 Jan2024Judge convicted of sexually assaulting six males resigns from bench
Reports O’Brien’s resignation from the bench, effective January 5th, and gives further details of the trial and conviction on December 22nd. Sentencing is adjourned to March 4th.
convicted, Gerard O'Brien, 59, male, named, irish (judged from name)Gerard O'Brienvictim, male - 6 Jan2024Convicted judge Gerard O’Brien should resign, sexual assault survivor says
Follow-up on the conviction: a survivor calls for the judge's resignation, sentencing is adjourned to March 4th, and the article discusses options if he does not resign. Offences were between 1991 and 1997, and no existing case matches.
convicted, Gerard O'Brien, 59, male, named, irish (judged from name)Gerard O'Brienvictim, malevictim, malevictim, malevictim, malevictim, malevictim, male - 4 Jan2024Judge convicted of sexual offence should not be allowed serve on bench, says ex-minister for justice
Reports political reaction to the conviction. Adds that sentencing is set for March 4th, that the judge may resign before then, that the Judicial Council has no role, and that no judge has been impeached since 1937.
convicted, Gerard O'Brien, male, named, irish (judged from name)Gerard O'Brienvictim, male